Tuesday, February 8, 2011

UML, Maoists decide to move ahead 'in cooperation and understanding'; Dahal denies dispute over ministerial portfolios

Despite facing criticism from certain political sections, CPN (UML) and UCPN (Maoist), who together head a new leftist coalition government, have decided to move ahead by sticking to the earlier seven-point agreement signed between the top leaders of the two parties.

A meeting between the senior leaders of the two parties held at the UML Parliamentary Party office in Singha Durbar Monday morning took a decision to this effect.
CPN (UML) chairman Jhala Nath Khanal
Pushpa Kamal Dahal (File Photo)

Emerging from the meeting, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told media-persons that the two parties have decided to move ahead together in cooperation and understanding as per the spirit of the recent seven-point agreement.

He also clarified that there remains no dispute between his party and the UML regarding the allocation of powerful ministerial portfolios.

"We won't make allocation of ministerial portfolios an agenda. It is not a big issue," Dahal assured, while trying to dismiss reports appearing in the media that the new coalition is facing initial hiccups with the tussle over sharing plum ministerial portfolios.
CPN (UML) chairman Jhala Nath Khanal
K.P Oli (File Photo)

Similarly, UML leader K.P Oli informed that during the meeting there was also discussion on how to bring Nepali Congress and Madhesi parties into the new cabinet.

The seven-point agreement signed ahead of the prime ministerial election on February 3 by Unified CPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal had led to Dahal's withdrawal from the PM race and Khanal's election to the post of prime minster. The agreement was revealed to the media on Saturday.

As per the agreement, the two leaders agreed to form a high-level mechanism to be led by the chairmen of the two parties on turn by turn basis and comprising of representatives from as many parties as possible for smooth functioning of the government.

They also agreed to form a separate force of the Maoist combatants or comprising of Maoist combatants and personnel from other security agencies and give the force some particular responsibility.

However, NC has expressed its strong reservation against the content of the seven-point agreement that led to the formation of UML-Maoist coalition government.

The party which has officially decided to stay in the opposition particularly raised objection to the agreement between the two parties to form a separate force of the Maoists combatants, warning that such a move will be detrimental to the peace process. nepalnews.com

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