KATHMANDU, August 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have agreed to expand the cabinet by Monday.
During the meeting held at the PM's residence in Baluwatar, the two leaders agreed to expand the government to include CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal's side as much as possible. Stating that internal struggle is going on within the party, the CPN-UML leader Nepal said that he was reluctant to join the government right now.
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In such a case, the Nepali Congress will have eight ministers, the Maoist Center and the Janata Samajbadi Party seven each.
Sources say that in the remaining three places, the leaders close to Nepal, but with independent status will be ministers. "The numbers and the ministry will be finalized by Sunday morning," said one leader. “The ruling parties are doing the homework to appoint leaders from their own party in the government. The extension will take place on Sunday or by Monday.”
Leaders including Pushpa Bhusal, Narayan Khadka, Man Bahadur BK, Kishor Singh Rathore and Bahadur Singh Lama are likely to be ministers from NC.
