Cabinet expansion after March 17: Dahal

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the cabinet will be expanded after the vice-presidential election scheduled for March 17.

“Now that the local body, federal and province government election and the presidential election have been conducted successfully, our focus will be on ensuring stability,” Dahal told media persons after the presidential election at the Federal Parliament Building on Thursday. “The cabinet will be expanded after the election for vice president is held.”

The three parties – CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which supported Dahal to form government on December 25, have already withdrawn their support and exited the government.

The coalition formed on December 25 broke with Dahal decided to support Ram Chandra Poudel of Nepali Congress for the presidency. Although Dahal had agreed to support UML’s candidate for the presidency, he later reneged on his promise which and refused to support UML’s candidate for the post of President.

Dahal has since formed a new coalition with Nepali Congress (NC) and other fringe parties. He plans to induct ministers from Nepali Congress, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party into his cabinet.