Dahal urges RPP-N to join new govt

Offers similar power sharing deal as in outgoing govt

KATHMANDU, Aug 3: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has requested Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) to join the new government under the similar power sharing arrangement as in the outgoing government.



According Mohan Shrestha, RPP-N deputy spokesperson, Dahal called RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa and requested him to join the new government.



"Chairman Thapa informed Dahal that our party is yet to decide on whether to join the new government. He also said that the party will take final decision following a democratic and transparent discussion on the issue within the party's central committee," said Shrestha.



RPP-N is sharply divided over the issue of joining the new government. Party leaders have expressed conflicting arguments in the central committee meeting on Tuesday.



Niranjan Thapa, RPP-N vice-chairman, Ram Kumar Subba, who is minister for land reform in the current government, Kunti Shahi, a state minister for local development, and a member of National Planning Commission, Gita Bhakta Joshi, opined that the party should join the new government under the leadership of CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.



On the other hand, Dilnath Giri, party's chief whip, Sushil Kumar Shrestha, a lawmaker from the party, Resham Lama, assistant minister for local development, and leaders Mukunda Shyam Giri and Babukaji Pradhan stood against the idea of joining the new government.



"Our major priority for now is the unification with Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). If a dialogue with RPP on Tuesday night ensures the unification process, we can jointly take a decision on the issue of joining the new government," said Mohan Shrestha, deputy spokesperson of RPP-N.



According to Shrestha, party's meeting on Wednesday morning will take a final decision on the issue.



"No decision on the matter of joining new government has been reached until Tuesday evening," said Shrestha.

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