Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal is likely to induct the minister nominees from the UCPN (Maoist) on Monday. [break]
The prime minister agreed to reshuffle the cabinet after the Maoist leaders agreed to reduce the number of new ministers and to expedite the twin tasks of concluding the peace process and statute drafting in the remaining one-month of the Constituent Assembly (CA) term.
Khanal said he had not been able to reshuffle the cabinet earlier because the list of ministers was long and time inappropriate. “It was difficult to reshuffle the cabinet as the Maoists had submitted a long list of 24 minister-nominees and we were expected to move ahead on the basis of consensus,” the prime minister said at a press meet on Sunday.
Khanal informed that he would induct only 11 cabinet ministers. Maoists had suggested to the prime minister to accommodate 12 ministers and 12 state ministers in the cabinet. Though the Maoists have staked claim to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Khanal´s aides in Baluwatar said the issue is yet to be finalized as the portfolio was earlier allocated to another coalition partner Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF). This issue needs to be settled through consensus between Prime Minister Khanal, Dahal and the MPRF chairman.
The prime minister said the renewed commitment by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has turned the situation in his favor. “I learnt that the Maoist chairman a little while ago has promised that his party is ready to set the standards for the integration, fix the number of combatants to be integrated into the security agencies, settle the issue of rank harmonization and rehabilitation package, among other things,” Khanal told media persons. “He is also ready to categorize the Maoist combatants depending on whether they want to join security forces or opt for rehabilitation.”
Khanal informed that Dahal has also pledged to prepare the first integrated draft of the new constitution before the extended CA term expires on August 31.
“I further request the Maoists to create a situation favorable for cabinet reshuffle by withdrawing the resignation of incumbent Maoist ministers,” he said. On Saturday, Dahal handed over a joint resignation of all Maoist ministers to the prime minister for not inducting the new team into the cabinet. The Maoist leaders had also threatened to withdraw the party´s support to the government.
Asked about the probability of inducting new Maoist ministers in the cabinet on Monday, the prime minister´s press advisor Surya Thapa said the prime minister and the Maoist chairman are yet to sort out some issues.
Maoists express commitment to peace process
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal earlier in the afternoon said that his party is committed to the peace process and that the cabinet reshuffle would not hinder the process of forming a national consensus government.
“The process of categorizing the combatants could be completed by August 31 if the parties agree on rehabilitation packages,” said Dahal addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Paris Danda on Sunday.
Dahal reiterated that his party is also ready to strike a deal on all issues of integration and prepare a draft of the constitution, but added that other political parties should also share “equal responsibility” for the peace process to come to fruition.
Dahal argued that the cabinet reshuffle would not impede the formation of a national consensus government. “We are ready to take initiatives for the formation of a new government within 24 hours of cabinet reshuffle,” said Dahal.
He said his party decided to continue to support the government after being assured by the prime minister that the minister nominees from the party would be sworn in.
Maoists had set Sunday as the deadline for Khanal to administer oath of office and secrecy to the party´s minister nominees, saying that they would otherwise withdraw their support to the government.
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