Meeting of ruling coalition inconclusive

KATHMANDU: A meeting of top leaders of the ruling coalition to finalize sharing of ministries ended conclusively on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda presented the draft of the Common Minimum Program (CMP) at the meeting.

Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lakhek said that the meeting would continue tomorrow morning to endorse the CMP and finalize the distribution of ministries.

The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Baluwatar could not make headway as the political parties in the ruling coalition remained adamant about their respective stance on power-sharing and distribution of ministries.

It should be noted that the meeting of top leaders of the 10 political parties in the ruling coalition was expected to finalize the ministerial portfolios.

PM Dahal was also expected to expand the cabinet today itself after the meeting.

Even though Prime Minister Dahal has already taken the vote of confidence, the expansion of the cabinet is being delayed due to the lack of agreement between the parties of the ruling coalition.

The ruling coalition includes Nepali Congress, Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Janata Samajwadi Party, Janamat Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Unified Socialist Party, and others.