Khanal likely to head broad-based cabinet

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Though almost all the lawmakers who voted for CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal to elect him as prime minister on Thursday were from communist parties, his cabinet is likely to be a broad-based coalition.

Close aides of Khanal said prime minister-elect Khanal will accommodate Madhes-based political parties and other fringe parties as well in the cabinet so as to make it an inclusive one.


Ghanshyam Bhusal, who is closely involved with Khanal in inter-party talks, said a broad-based cabinet is necessary since delivering peace and constitution are the major responsibilities of the new government.

"Therefore, we will not hesitate to incorporate more and more political parties," Bhusal told Republica.

He said the leaders have so far not worked out in detail the formation of the cabinet.

Leaders involved in the talks said top leaders from both the UCPN (Maoist) and UML have reached only a broad understanding on power-sharing.

They said there is an understanding that they would consider some crucial factors like the size of the party, nature of the ministry and number of parties to join the government. "Since the Maoist party is double size in size compared to our party, we must recognize this fact," said a leader. At the same time, the Maoist leaders have agreed to allow the prime minister´s party to lead some of the key ministries.

When asked about the leaders to join the cabinet from ruling UML, multiple sources in the party said the picture is still sketchy.

They said UML Secretary Bishnu Poudel is more likely to be given the second position in the cabinet from the UML. But, leaders also believe that Khanal will prefer Bharatmohan Adhikari if UML bags the Ministry of Finance.

Similarly, leaders said Pradeep Gyawali will be more preferable candidate for heading the Ministry of Peace if it falls within UML´s share.

Sources said Prithvi Subba Gurung or Bijay Subba from ethnic communities and Ramchandra Jha from the Madhesh are other likely faces. Khanal will certainly try to accommodate some of the leaders from the group, which has been consistently supporting him in garnering support from other political parties, during the course of government formation. Prakash Jwala, Ghanshyam Bhusal, Yamlal Kandel, Gokarna Bista, Ravindra Adhikari and Yogesh Bhattarai are among them.

Meanwhile, a standing commitee meeting of the party on Friday called upon all the political parties to join the new government of consensus with an objective to deliver peace and constitution.