Parties begin picking cabinet members

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, Aug 17 - With the new Prime Minister of the country elected, different political parties have stepped up consultations to choose leaders for the ministries of the next government.The parties in the newly formed alliance --- CPN-Maoist, UML and Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) --- on ...

A meeting of the MPRF central committee is underway at Ravibhawan to decide the name of the candidates representing the party in the government.

The meeting is learnt to be discussing on whether to pick senior leaders or new faces.

The CPN-Maoist and the UML are also scheduled to hold central committee meetings to discuss the issue of ministers today.

A source reported that members of the cabinet will be chosen among Maoist senior leader Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Pampha Bhusal, Jayapuri Gharti, Amrita Thapa, Tope Bahadur Rayamajhi, Prabhu Shah and Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma.

Likewise, the UML has not made any formal decision yet. However, Bhim Rawal and Ram Chandra Jha are likely to be put forward.

Bam Dev Gautam, Amrit Kumar Bohara and Bishnu Poudel have claimed for the ministerial post. Nevertheless, sources say that Poudel is unlikely to be chosen.

On Friday, the Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal nom de guerre Prachanda was elected the new Prime Minister clearing path for the formation of the government, which has been in limbo since the 601-member Constituent Assembly formally put an end to the monarchy in the country on May 28.