Ruling coalition set to discuss cabinet expansion at 4pm

Kathmandu: The ruling political parties are set to hold a decisive meeting on Tuesday to discuss the expansion of the council of ministers.

A meeting of the top leaders of the ruling coalition on Monday decided to hold discussions with other coalition partners on Tuesday.

The meeting held yesterday between prime minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Nepal Communist Party (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal had decided to call the meeting of all coalition partners at 4pm Today, the press expert of prime minister Manahari Timilsina said.

Haribol Gajurel, the chief political advisor of PM Dahal, informed that the Monday’s meeting of the three top leaders of the ruling coalition held discussion to finalize the power-sharing deal and cabinet expansion.

According to Gajurel , top leaders of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Janatha Party, Nagarik Mukti Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, General Public Party and Nepal Samajbadi Party have been invited to attend the meeting Today. The meeting will also discuss the government’s policies and programs and other current issues, Gajurel added.

It’s been nine days since the prime minister took the vote of confidence. But PM Dahal, who is currently in charge of 16 ministries, has been unable to expand his cabinet.

Delay in the expansion of Dahal-led cabinet has also created problems regarding the implementation of current fiscal year’s budget and preparation of the next budget.