55 days gone‚ Khanal´s teething problems far from over

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal is about to complete two months since he assumed the top post, but he is still floundering to give full shape to his Cabinet, as the two ruling coalition partners — CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist — are mired in intra- and inter-party wrangling.

The two parties have yet to decide who all should be sent to the Cabinet and who should get what portfolios. The home ministry still continues to be the bone of contention.

Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal that struck a deal with the coalition partners last week is yet to join the government. MJF-N is pressing for at least four portfolios, though PM Khanal had promised only three. PM Khanal and MJF-N are yet to reach a deal on other portfolios to be given to the latter besides the foreign ministry.

So, PM Khanal’s kitty is full of issues — who to assign home ministry, how to bring the Nepali Congress into the government, how many portfolios for MJF-N, how to distribute portfolios among ruling partners.

In addition, amid wrangling, PM Khanal is a bundle of nerve as to how to skirt the blame game in which leaders of his and Maoist party are engaged.

Minister Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma of the UCPN-M blamed UML, for the delay in Cabinet getting full shape. “Once UML is ready, we will forward the names from our side immediately,” said Bishwokarma.

Leaders of the coalition partners too have different opinions. A section led by Maoist Vice Chairman Baburman Bhattarai is making a pitch for NC’s inclusion in the government by awarding the party the home ministry. A faction led by Madhav Nepal and KP Oli in UML is voicing the same. But NC has refused to swallow the home ministry bait.

However, some UML insiders are hopeful that PM Khanal would get rid of teething problems soon. “The Cabinet will get full shape within two or three days. Since NC has refused our request to join the government, we will soon decide on the names and portfolios,” said UML Chief Whip Bhim Prasad Acharya.

PM Khanal’s press adviser Surya Thapa said the prime minister was waiting for a decision from the Maoists.

On home ministry row, UML sources said the prime minister ‘might pick someone as the state minister for home affairs’ and keep the portfolio with him for some more time ‘until the dispute is over’.