BIRENDRANAGAR, Aug. 3: Six days after the appointment of a new chief minister in Karnali Province, the provincial government is still without a full Cabinet as coalition partners remain locked in a power-sharing dispute over ministerial portfolios.
The deadlock between the ruling coalition partners over the number of ministers and the allocation of ministries has delayed the expansion of the seven-member Cabinet, including the chief minister.
Karnali Province Chief Yagya Raj Joshi appointed Mangal Bahadur Shahi as chief minister on Tuesday. He was sworn in the following day under Article 168(2) of the Constitution and assumed office immediately afterward.
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However, despite taking charge, Shahi has been unable to expand his Cabinet as negotiations between the coalition partners have failed to produce a breakthrough. Nearly a week after his appointment, the two sides are still at odds over both the number of ministerial positions and the distribution of key portfolios.
According to sources, the UML has demanded four ministries, including the Ministry of Social Development, which is responsible for co-hosting the 10th National Games. The Maoist Centre, however, has insisted on an equal share of the Cabinet, arguing that each party should receive three ministries.
The latest round of talks reportedly brought the two sides close to a deal under which the Maoist Centre would receive three ministerial positions, including a state minister, while the UML would get four ministers. The negotiations, however, hit another roadblock after both parties claimed the Ministry of Social Development.
As a result, Chief Minister Shahi has been running the provincial government single-handedly for the past six days. With no ministers in place, even Cabinet meetings have yet to be held.
Leaders of the ruling coalition expressed optimism that the remaining differences would be resolved soon and said the Cabinet is likely to be expanded by Monday or Tuesday.
