Ruling parties to unveil Common Minimum Program within five days

PM Dahal to expand cabinet only after winning vote of confidence from parliament

KATHMANDU, Dec 30: Ruling alliance has decided to unveil the Common Minimum Program (CMP) of the new government-led by CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal within the next five days.

A meeting of the ruling alliance held at the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday decided to entrust the task to draft the CMP to a committee led by CPN-UML Vice Chairman and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, according to UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel.

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General Secretary Pokharel added that the meeting has also decided to form a high-level mechanism to ensure coordination and cooperation among ruling parties under CPN-UML Chairman K P Oli.

The meeting on Thursday also dwelt on power-sharing deals among the ruling parties. However, no decision was taken in this regard, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

During the meeting, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden reportedly said that his party would decide whether to join the government or not only after seeing the CMP of the ruling parties. Leaders of the ruling parties are hopeful that the RPP will also join the government led by Chairman Dahal.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dahal has decided to expand his cabinet only after getting the vote of confidence in parliament. Prime Minister Dahal has decided to defer cabinet expansion as RPP and other smaller parties are also expected to join the government.

Prime Minister Dahal on Monday formed an eight-member cabinet that includes three deputy prime ministers. Prime Minister Dahal has not assigned ministerial portfolios to four ministers appointed on Monday so far as the power-sharing deal among the ruling parties has yet to be finalized.

President Bhandari has already summoned the house session on January 9 at the recommendation of the cabinet. Prime Minister Dahal plans to secure a vote of confidence immediately after the new parliament session begins. “Cabinet expansion will take place only after winning the vote of confidence from parliament. We hope to finalize the CMP and power-sharing deal among the parties by then,” said a senior Maoist Center leader, asking not to be named.