NC, UML form task force to prepare govt’s common minimum program

KATHMANDU: The ruling coalition partners are working on forming a Common Minimum Program (CMP) for the government. Although the two parties signed a seven-point agreement to replace the Maoist Center-led government on July 2, they had not formed a CMP.

During a meeting on Sunday evening, senior leaders from the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML agreed to form a task force to draft the CMP.

The NC was represented by its President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in the meeting, while Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, and UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel represented UML.

The task force includes General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa and Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat from NC, alongside Prime Minister Oli’s chief adviser Bishnu Rimal and Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali from UML.

The meeting also decided to consult with other coalition partners during the preparation of the CMP to enhance the government’s effectiveness.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the ruling coalition partners is scheduled for 4 pm on Monday. Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and Janata Samajbadi Party are the other two parties in the coalition government.