ITAHARI: Nepali Congress (NC) has failed to recommend its ministers in the Koshi Province Government, even though it has already been one and a half months since ministers from the CPN (Maoist Center) left the Hikmat Kumar Karki-led government.
After forming a new coalition in the center, NC and CPN-UML decided to form a coalition government in Koshi under UML’s leadership. Although Maoist Center ministers subsequently exited the government, Karki’s government has yet to take full shape.
As per the understanding reached between the two parties on July 27, NC will get four out of nine ministries in Koshi Province. NC had agreed to recommend ministers within two days, but the party has been failing to do so due to internal disputes.
Although NC has not joined Karki’s government yet, its province assembly members have started sitting on the ruling party benches in the Koshi Province Assembly.
The Koshi Province Committee has authorized the party’s central office to recommend ministers in Koshi. Chief Whip of NC in Koshi Province Assembly, Gopal Tamang, said they have not received names from the center yet. “There is no other reason behind the delay. We are likely to get the names very soon,” he added. “NC will join the government with four ministers and two ministers of state.”
NC and UML have reached an understanding to induct ministers of state into the cabinet instead of splitting ministries, as that would send a negative message. Each party will have four ministers and two ministers of state in Karki’s government.
NC has 29 members in the province assembly. Party sources say the plan is to appoint two members from party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s group and one each from Dr. Shekhar Koirala and former general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula’s groups.
Amrit Aryal, Pradeep Sunuwar, Khagen Singh Hangam, Himal Karki, Dolma Tamang, and Maiya Shrestha, among others, are eyeing cabinet berths from Deuba’s camp. Likewise, one of Govinda Giri, Man Bahadur Limbu, Ram Kumar Khatri, and Indira Thapa could be selected from Dr. Koirala’s camp, while Sitaula is likely to pick one among Bhim Parajuli and Bhupendra Rai, among others.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Karki said it would take a few more days for his cabinet to take full shape. “Cabinet expansion will occur only after the Teej festival,” Karki told journalists at Biratnagar Airport on Wednesday. “I request my friends in NC to expedite the process of selecting ministers.”
