Minister of Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was likely to induct ministers in his Cabinet after the presidential elections scheduled for March 9.
At a press conference to brief about the latest Cabinet decisions, Sharma said the parties were busy with the election campaign and therefore, Cabinet expansion would take place only after presidential election. Sharma said in the new political context after formation of the eight-party alliance, the PM needed to hold talks with coalition partners about portfolios and other issues.
There are eight parties in the current coalition - the CPN-Maoist Centre, Nepali Congress, CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party-Nepal, Janamat Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party and Rastriya Janamorcha.
At least seven political parties other than Rastriya Janamorcha are likely to join the government and it is often a challenging task for the prime minister to satisfy all coalition partners as all of them want more ministries and plum portfolios.
At present, the PM is holding Cabinet portfolios vacated by Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and the CPN- UML. Only yesterday, all eight UML ministers tendered their resignation to the PM.
With the formation of the new eight-party alliance, portfolio division among coalition partners could prove tricky, hence, the delay in Cabinet expansion until the presidential election. Since Cabinet reshuffle before the presidential election could disenchant some coalition partners, the PM might defer portfolio distribution until the presidential election.
At present there are only seven ministers in the Dahal Cabinet, including Dahal himself. The PM holds 16 ministries at present, including the portfolio of Forests and Environment; Youth and Sports; Home Affairs; Education, Science and Technology; Labour, Employment and Social Security; Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Urban Development; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Finance; Agriculture and Livestock Development; Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation; Foreign Affairs; Health and Population; Women, Children and Senior Citizens; and Defence.
Minister Sharma also said the PM would seek vote of confidence. Article 100 (2) of the constitution stipulates: In case a political party, which the prime minister represents, is divided or a political party in the coalition government withdraws support, the prime minister shall table a motion in the House of Representatives for a vote of confidence within thirty days.
The government has decided to publish the names of martyrs, including those killed in various political movements, and the people's war in the Nepal gazette.
In response to a query, Minister Sharma said that the PM had appointed Senior Advocate and former Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Govinda Bandi as his Peace and Human Rights adviser only for the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council.
