E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, JUL 31 - Stepping up pressure on a reluctant Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal to reshuffle the Cabinet, the UCPN (Maoist), a key partner in the present coalition, on Saturday decided to withdraw all its ministers from the government. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal submitted the resignation papers of his party’s ministers to PM Khanal late Saturday evening warning to withdraw support to the government if he failed to reshuffle the cabinet by Sunday.

The Standing Committee meet of the Maoists decided to recall the ministers. Last Sunday, immediately after the party Central Committee (CC) decided to recall all ministers barring three, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the party’s leader in the government, and Information and Communication Minister Agni Sapkota resigned to pave the way for new Maoist ministers to be sworn-in. The reshuffle didn’t affect Minister for Physical Planning and Works Top Bahadur Rayamjhi, Minister for Law Prabhu Shah and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma.

Maoist Spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal will submit the resignation papers of the ministers to PM Khanal. Maoist leaders say the decision has only a technical meaning, and it is a step taken to pile pressure on Khanal to administer the oath of office to Maoist ministers. The Maoists are also likely to withdraw support if he fails to swear in their ministers.

The party has called its Standing Committee meet for Sunday to take a final call on withdrawing their six-month long support to the government. According to Maoist leaders, Khanal has not given a clear decision about the swearing-in. He is merely saying that he will manage the problem after consultation with his party’s leaders and the main opposition Nepali Congress. Khanal is wavering fifty-fifty between resigning and swearing-in the new Maoist ministers. “There is no sense in  remaining in the government if Khanal fails to implement the decision taken by our CC,” said Maoist Standing Committee member Top Bahadur Rayamajhi. “Our decision to send a new inclusive team in the government will not affect the formation of a national consensus government,” said Rayamajhi. 

The Maoists decided to send a new squad in the government after the Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya faction demanded to ensure the party’s inclusive face in the government. Khanal was elected prime minister on Feb 3 with the backing of the Maoists.

The seven-point deal, which was the basis of the current coalition, was signed by Khanal and Dahal which drew flak from the prime minister’s own party CPN-UML and opposition Nepali Congress. Khanal and Dahal had agreed to run the government on rotational basis.

According to Maoist leaders, now it is the Maoists’ turn to run the government as Khanal has already served for six months. “We will claim the leadership of the government from Aug 3 as per the understanding and UML has to support us,” said a Maoist leader.

The Maoist leaders, however, say their decision will not create hurdles for Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal to administer the oath of office to Maoist ministers if he so desires.

Posted on: 2011-07-31 10:38

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