PM Dahal reshuffles Cabinet as he breaks alliance with NC

Published On: March 5, 2024 08:02 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Three new members from UML and RSP inducted in his cabinet as power-sharing negotiations continue among coalition partners

KATHMANDU, March 5: After a fallout with coalition partner Nepali Congress (NC), Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal reshuffled the Cabinet on Monday and formed new government of small size with the help of CPN-UML and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the second and fourth largest parties in the parliament.

The CPN (Maoist Centre) is the third largest party with 53 seats in the 275-member parliament, of which a government must command at least 138 seats.

The newly inducted ministers in the Cabinet include Padam Giri from the UML, Hit Bahadur Tamang from CPN (Maoist Center) and Dol Prasad Aryal from RSP.

The newly-appointed ministers took the oath of office and secrecy during a special ceremony held at the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas on Monday afternoon. However, they have not been assigned any ministerial portfolios as negotiations among the coalition partners are still underway to finalize the power-sharing deal.

Maoist Center’s Secretary Devendra Paudel said that there has been a change in the alliance as part of an effort to unite all the leftists parties in the country.

Sources claimed that in the new coalition agreement, RSP President Rabi Lamichhane is slated to assume the role of Home Minister, along with the portfolio of Deputy Prime Minister, while Dahal will continue as Prime Minister. Additionally, UML is expected to secure the position of National Assembly Speaker.

Dahal formed an alliance with the NC after the general elections in 2022, following a rift with the CPN-UML over the presidential candidate. Backed by the NC, the government led by Dahal was formed a year ago on December 25, 2022 after agreeing to make Ram Chandra Paudel the president.

However, a rift with the NC over the Bill on Transitional Justice led to an abrupt end to the partnership. Sources claimed that Prime Minister Dahal wanted to bring new faces in his cabinet amid concerns of under performance by some ministers representing the NC and other coalition partners. Prime Minister Dahal took the initiative after the NC President did not cooperate with his request.

Additionally, Prime Minister Dahal was not happy with the call of overwhelming members of NC Mahasamiti to go against the electoral alliance and break the existing alliance with the Maoist Center. A senior Maoist Center leader said that the proposal to unite all leftist parties while giving continuity to Dahal as the prime minister brought him closer to the UML.