Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has devised a strategy of keeping the home affairs portfolio with him citing the apex court.
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was allotted the home ministry when the coalition of seven parties was formed in the last week of December. RSP President Rabi Lamichhane was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs along with Dahal on December 26. As the post became vacant after the Supreme Court ruled Lamichhane ineligible to hold public positions, Dahal has kept the home affairs portfolio with him
While RSP has demanded that it should get the home ministry, Dahal looks in no mood to hand the reins of the home ministry to the party until the apex court releases the full text of its verdict.
Dahal told Lamichhane the same on Tuesday, stating that the success of his government is dependent on the home ministry. He, however, told the meeting of the office-bearers of his party that the decision on home ministry will be taken only after the full text of the verdict comes.
PM Dahal has hinted that Lamichhane expressed his desire to become the home minister again. He, however, isn’t in favor of appointing a non-parliamentarian to his cabinet. RSP leaders, however, maintain that the party hasn’t yet who it intends to send to the home ministry.
Lamichhane reportedly told Dahal on Tuesday that RSP would leave the government if it isn’t given the home portfolio. “In a meeting with PM Dahal, our president has reiterated RSP’s stance that it should get the home ministry. He told the PM that the party can go to the extent of quitting the government if it isn’t given the home ministry,” a RSP leader told Himal Press.
Lamichhane reportedly told Dahal on Tuesday that RSP would leave the government if it isn’t given the home portfolio.
Dahal has told party leaders that he was not in favor of breaking the coalition just because of the home ministry. “We are in internal discussions. Our effort is on preventing the coalition from splitting,” Dahal told media persons after the meeting.
The RSP leader said his party will decide who will become the home minister only after it is given the home portfolio.
Another coalition partner, CPN-UML, however, is in favor of giving the home portfolio to RSP.
Lamichhane was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs on December 26 after UML, Maoist Center, RSP and few other parties forge an alliance.
