Cabinet likely to take shape by Saturday

Kathmandu, August 19:

MJF wants to share power, not just ministries: Upendra Yadav

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held a meeting with CPN-UML general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal this evening.

When asked why it was taking long for government formation, he said talks had moved in positive direction and the Maoists and ...

...Janadhikar Forum were close to reach an agreement. “We were about to settle the issue yesterday. We’ll sit with the forum leaders tomorrow and settle the issue,” Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.

According to another Maoist leader Dev Gurung, the PM will meet UML and MJF leaders to finalise portfolios tomorrow evening after returning from flood-hit areas of Sunsari.

Gurung said the PM was most likely to visit China for the closing ceremony of Olympics on Saturday.

He hoped that cabinet would be formed before the departure of the PM.

Asked if the Maoists were at odds with MJF only or with the UML as well over cabinet portfolios, Gurung said, “We have minor differences with the UML and that will not stop us from expanding the cabinet.” He said they would resolve the issue with MJF once it decided who will join the cabinet from the party.

MJF chairman Upendra Yadav said nothing had been finalised with regard to portfolios and they wanted to share power not just the ministries. Asked if they wanted water resources, foreign affairs and local development ministries, he said, “We will go for powerful ministries.

UML leader Shankar Pokharel said the Maoists were still not ready to give local development ministry to his party as agreed before.

“It seems that the Maoist cadres are pressing the party leadership not to give local

development ministry to us,” he added.

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