Participation in Oli govt only after package deal: Dahal

Published On: February 17, 2018 08:28 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Feb 17: The CPN (Maoist Center) has decided to send ministers from the party into the new government led by CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli only after a package agreement is reached on party unification and power sharing.

Addressing the fifth national convention of the Unified All Nepal Teachers Association in Kathmandu on Friday, Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said his party will soon participate in the Oli-led government as the negotiations on party unification and power sharing are currently underway. “Questions have been raised over our participation in the cabinet. We will participate only after reaching a package agreement including on party unification and various big political appointments including president, speaker and ministers,” he said. “Positive negotiations are underway.”

Although they have reached agreement on a number of issues, Dahal said they are yet to discuss some of the other issues and arrive at a consensus. Sources said the two parties are yet to agree on the ideological direction of the new party.

Prime Minister Oli on Thursday formed a three-member cabinet with Lalbabu Pandit as Environment Minister and Thammaya Thapa as Women and Children Minister, both from his own party. Although the Maoist Center extended support to the UML to form the new government, it has not sent anyone into the Oli cabinet yet.

Chairman Dahal said that after 70 years the left alliance has charted out a new path of political stability, prosperity, reform and socialism in Nepal. He also vowed to achieve what no past government has achieved.

On the occasion, Dahal also said at least 20 percent of the total budget should be allocated to the education sector. He pointed out the need to make education job-oriented as the existing education system had only produced educated unemployed.

“We will start our journey of stability and prosperity through education as education is vital for professional advancement and prosperity,” he said, while assuring that the new government would address all issues concerning education.