Mahara as DPM to lead Maoists in govt

Onsari Gharti to contest for speaker

KATHMANDU, Oct 16: A major ruling party UCPN (Maoist) has decided to field outgoing deputy speaker Onsari Gharti as its candidate for the post of speaker and send a team of leaders in the government led by the party general secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

A standing committee meeting of the party held on Thursday also entrusted party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal with the responsibility to pick ministerial candidates from the party.


"The meeting decided to propose Onsari Gharti for the post of speaker and made an understanding that General Secretary Mahara will lead the party's team in the government," party leader Janardan Sharma told Republica.

The parliament secretariat has scheduled a vote to elect speaker and deputy speaker for Friday and it has also asked the aspirants to file their candidacies earlier on the same day.

The UCPN (Maoist) has proposed Gharti Magar for new speaker after CPN-UML assured to support the Maoist candidate for the post.

Though the UCPN (Maoist) had proposed party chief whip Girirajmani Pokharel for the post, he had reportedly declined the offer.

Leaders said though the meeting entrusted the party chairman to pick the ministerial candidates, they have also reached an understanding about key ministers.

According to sources, though Mahara as a deputy prime minister will lead the party's team, party secretary Top Bahadur Raymajhi is likely to get the coveted home ministry. Mahara is likely to head the Ministry of Local Development or any other key ministry.

While Girirajmani Pokharel and Shakti Basnet are likely to be picked for ministers from among senior leaders, the party has decided to pick one ministerial candidate each from various communities such as Tharu, Madhesi, Women and Janajati. Rekha Sharma from women, Shree Jawegu or Chham Bhadur Gurung from among the Janajati, Santu Tharu or Gaurishankar Chaudhary from Tharu, and Satya Narayan Bhagat or Shiva Kumar Mandal or Umesh Yadav from the Madhesi community have been viewed as possible candidates, according to party sources.

Leaders have said deputy speaker has been allocated for Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal in the power-sharing deal among ruling parties during the formation of new government.

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