On Tuesday, a “majority” of MPRF lawmakers tried to meet Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to remind him of his commitment to their parliamentary party leader, Bijaya Gachchhadar, before Nepal became prime minister.
They said that Nepal and other party leaders had promised a deputy prime ministership to Gachchhadar.
They said the prime minister should take cognizance of the MPRF parliamentary party’s decision to join the government under Gachchhadhar’s leadership.
“We tried to meet the prime minister to remind him of his commitment to our parliamentary party leader but could not because he was busy in political consultations,” said Okil Musalman, a staunch supporter of Gachchhadar and MPRF lawmaker. “We are seeking an appointment for a meeting with the prime minister on Wednesday.”
Till Saturday MPRF was split over who should lead the party in the government. This dispute was temporarily settled on Saturday with a party taskforce deciding to send both Chairman Upendra Yadav and parliamentary party leader Gachchhadar into the new government.
“We also heard that some of our friends are trying to meet the prime minister. We will discuss this issue at the meeting of the party´s political committee,” said MPRF leader Upendra Jha, who is close to MPRF Chairman Yadav. He said he has no idea how many members of parliament are meeting the prime minister.
Musalman said that they are trying to meet the prime minister as the later seemed to have forgotten his commitment to Gachchhadar. “We will tell the prime minister that we may do anything if he does not appoint Gachchhadar as deputy prime minister,” said Musalman.
PM, UML leaders discuss naming ministers
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and top CPN-UML leaders discussed the names to be inducted in the cabinet from the party.
Party chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel and senior leader of the party K P Oli had visited the prime minister´s official residence in Baluwatar to discuss the matter. The top leaders almost okayed names of UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel and the party´s politburo member Rabindra Shrestha, said a senior leader of the party.
Other likely faces from the UML are Raghubir Mahaseth, Bhim Rawal, Bhanubhakta Jaisi, Bishnu Poudel and Ram Chandra Jha. Likewise, the top leaders also discussed the candidates for ministers for state. The probable leaders are Dambar Sambahamphe, Rijwan Ansari, Jitu Gautam and Dal Bahadur Sunar.
But the names are not final as the coalition partners have yet to finalize the portfolios to be shared by the ruling parties. "There can be changes in the names depending on the ministries the party finally gets," the leader said.
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