KATHMANDU, April 6: Three weeks after stalling the cabinet meeting over the hierarchy row between Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Kamal Thapa and DPM Bimalendra Nidhi, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal has made up his mind to give seniority to Thapa among the three DPMs.
The decision is likely to further strain the relations between the ruling CPN (Maoist Center) and Nepali Congress(NC) as DPM Bimalendra Nidhi, who leads Nepali Congress(NC) ministers in the cabinet, has announced to resign from the cabinet if he is not made number two in hierarchy in the cabinet, after the prime minister.
NC not in mood to topple govt: leader Nidhi
Prime Minister Dahal informed his party leaders about his intention to give second portfolio to RPP Chairman Thapa during his party's headquarters meeting on Thursday, said a party leader. However, he is yet to give the senior portfolio to Thapa in the cabinet.
The seniority row between the two DPMs --Home Minister Nidhi of Nepali Congress (NC) and Local Development Minister Kamal Thapa of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) - has made Prime Minister Dahal unable to convene cabinet meeting for more than three weeks. A regular cabinet meeting scheduled on Thursday was also put off due to the same reason, according to a minister.
“I have thought of settling the row by giving the senior position to Kamal Jee (Thapa),” Maoist Center leader Lokendra Bista quoted Dahal as saying in the meeting. According to Bista, Dahal informed about his decision in the party meeting after some leaders expressed worry over the prolonged seniority row in the cabinet.
Thapa, who is the chairman of the fourth largest political party in parliament and the third major party in the ruling coalition, had earlier threatened to quit the government if he was not given senior most hierarchy among the three DPMs. As NC leader Nidhi also claimed the same, Dahal has been in a dilemma.
Meanwhile, following the development, DPM Nidhi has announced in a meeting with NC ministers held at the home ministry on Thursday afternoon to resign from the post if Thapa is made senior to him in the cabinet's hierarchy. “I will resign if I am not made the senior-most DPM,” a source quoted Nidhi as saying in the meeting.
Nidhi also sought suggestions from NC ministers whether he should resign, said a minister attending the meeting. “He was of the view that being a leader of the largest political party he should be the senior DPM among the three DPMs,” said Minister for Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation, Hridayaram Thani.
However, according to Thani ministers in the meeting suggested Nidhi that his resignation was not a solution to the problem.
