LUMBINI: The Lumbini Province Cabinet has not been able to get full shape due to growing disagreement between two main coalition partners – Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN (Maoist Center).
NC Parliamentary Party leader Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary assumed the role of Chief Minister with the support of eight parties on April 27. However, Chaudhary has not been able to give a full shape to his cabinet. The Chief Minister has put the cabinet expansion on hold due to internal disputes within the NC and the Maoist Center’s dissatisfaction over not receiving ministries as promised during the power-sharing arrangement.
A member of the NC in Lumbini Province Assembly told Himal Press that the cabinet expansion efforts have been hindered by internal factionalism within the party. Both the establishment and anti-establishment factions of the NC have proposed names for ministerial appointments which has put Chief Minister Chaudhary in a state of confusion, the member added.
As per the power-sharing agreement, Chief Minister Chaudhary is expected to appoint two ministers each from the NC and the Maoist Center to his cabinet. However, leaders of both parties have expressed concerns following Chaudhary’s failure to make ministerial appointments even four months after he assumed office.
Indrajit Tharu, the Maoist Center’s Chief Whip in the Lumbini Province Assembly, said that the Chief Minister is the sole reason behind the protracted delay in cabinet expansion. “When the government was formed, we recommended three assembly members for ministerial positions. However, only one of them was appointed,” Chief Whip Chaudhary remarked. “We might consider leaving the government if the cabinet is not expanded soon.”
He also said that the party’s presence in the government has weakened due to the prolonged delay in cabinet expansion. “If the situation persists, we might recall our minister from the cabinet,” Chief Whip Chaudhary added.
The Maoist Center had recommended Dhan Bahadur Maski of Dang, Dipendra Kumar Pun of Rolpa, and Krishna KC of Banke for appointment in the cabinet. Maski has been appointed as the finance minister. Pun’s nomination has faced opposition from a faction within the NC. Pun defeated NC’s Province Committee Chairman Amar Singh Pun, a common candidate of the ruling coalition, in the election. He has now joined the Maoist Center.
Chief Minister Chaudhary and Health Minister Raju Khanal both belong to the establishment faction of the NC. Since the anti-establishment faction is also seeking representation in the provincial cabinet, Chief Minister Chaudhary is under pressure to choose one among Bir Bahadur Rana, Bishwo Prem Pathak, and Bhubaneshwar Chaudhary for cabinet appointment.
Nima Giri, the NC’s whip, attributed the delay in cabinet expansion to the lack of seriousness among senior leaders of the coalition. “While having multiple aspirants is natural, the party needs to make a decision,” she emphasized. “Ultimately, everybody will accept the decision taken by the party.”
Three out of 10 ministries in Lumbini Province Government have been vacant for four months now. With smaller parties already allocated ministerial roles, the NC and the Maoist Center will need to relinquish one ministry to accommodate new ministerial aspirants. Sources, however, say that preparation is underway way to split the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, and Transport Management, and the Ministry of Water Supply, Rural and Urban Development, to make room for more aspirants.
