A meeting of the top leaders from the five political parties at the residence of Mahantha Thakur, chairman of Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) reached an agreement to this effect. Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai had earlier allocated 11 ministerial portfolios to the UDMF.[break]
In a bid to settle the power-sharing row, Bhattarai had to allocate one more ministerial berth to the UDMF. The power-sharing arrangement hit a snag after chiefs of the Madhes-based parties staked claim to the post of deputy prime minister.
After being awarded one more ministerial berth in the new coalition, the Madhes-based parties have given up their claim to the post.
According to a leader privy to the development, the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), has been given four plum ministries -- home, defense, forest and environment; while the MPRF-Republican has bagged three ministries -- information and communications, agriculture and cooperatives, and a ministry without portfolio. Similarly, the TMDP has been given the ministry of physical planning and works, law and justice.
TMDP-Nepal has bagged two ministries -- irrigation, and women children and social welfare and the Sadbhavana Party (SP) has been given the ministry of health.
Leaders said they have agreed to bifurcate the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the minister without portfolio will later head the ministry.
- MPRF-D: Home, defense, forest and environment
- MPRF-R: Information and communications, agriculture and cooperatives, one without portfolio
- TMDP: Physical planning and works, law and justice
- TMDP-N: Irrigation and women, children and social welfare
- SP: Health
Chairman Bijay Gachchhadar of MPRF-D was sworn-in as deputy prime minister and home minister on the same day the prime minister was sworn in by the president. He will lead his party in the cabinet.
Chairman Jay Prakash Gupta from the MPRF-R, Vice-chairman Hridayes Tripathi from TMDP, Mahendra Yadav from TMDP-Nepal and Chairman Rajendra Mahato of the SP will lead their respective teams in the coalition.
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