Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he will begin preparation for cabinet expansion from Thursday itself.
Talking to journalists after attending an orientation for lawmakers of the eight political parties in Kathmandu ahead of the presidential election, Dahal also claimed that the coalition will continue for five years.
CPN-UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which had supported Dahal to form government in December 25, have already withdrawn their support and exited the government. As a result, most of the ministries are lying vacant. Other coalition partner, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has also exited the government. But the party has said that it won’t withdraw its support.
The coalition formed on December 25 broke after Dahal decided to support candidate of Nepali Congress for the presidential election despite promising to support UML candidate for the position. Dahal has now formed a new coalition with Nepali Congress and other fringe parties. Power-sharing deal among coalition partner, however, is unlikely before the presidential election scheduled for March 9.
