Uphill task for new PM; Cabinet likely today
If the history of recent Cabinet expansions is any guide, newly-elccted Prime Minister Baburam Bhattrai faces a Herculean task in the next few days to come.
The Bhattarai government is expected to have 26 ministers, in addition to an undisclosed number of state and assistant ministers. The Samyukta Loktantrik Madeshi Morcha (SLMM) is likely to bag at least 12 portfolios of the total of 26, while the rest will go to the UCPN (Maoist) and fringe parties. It seems that most of the Cabinet portfolios will go to the non-Maoist parties.
A small Cabinet is likely to be announced on Monday after the oath of office and secrecy to be administered by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav. The ceremony will be held in Sheetal Niwas at 1 pm on Monday.
There are suggestions that the PM should leave some portfolios vacant to accommodate Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, a move that could better the prospects of the two parties joining the government, giving it a consensual character. As of Sunday evening, the Post learnt that high-profile ministries like the Defence and Home will be given to the Madhesi parties. Other high-profile ministries—Finance and Foreign Affairs—are likely to go to the Maoists.
An informal understanding between the Maoists and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madeshi Morcha (SLMM) on Sunday has it that 12 portfolios will be given to the latter. Sources privy to the cross-party negotiations said Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar is likely to become the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, with three other ministerial berths in his party’s kitty.
Likewise, the Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta-led Madehsi Janadhikar Fourm-Gantantrik may secure three berths that are yet to be decided on. The Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party-Nepal is also likely to get two ministries. The Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party may get two ministries, Sadhbhawana Party one and an alliance of fringe parties two portfolios.
The Madeshi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal led by Upendra Yadav is unlikely to join the Cabinet immediately. “We have not taken a formal decision on whether to join the Cabinet.
“Keeping the Nepali Congress and the UML in the opposition will not serve the objective of this government,” Yadav said.
Posted on: 2011-08-29 09:15
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