Party unification requisite before govt formation: Chakrapani Khanal
KATHMANDU, Feb 18: CPN (Maoist Center) leader Chakrapani Khanal has stressed on finalizing party unification process with the CPN-UML first before forming the government.
UML Chair KP Oli has already been sworn in as the 41st prime minister of Nepal, along with two ministers from UML. But, the two parties are yet to conclude the sharing of ministerial portfolios and key posts in the proposed united party.
PM KP Oli wanted to induct at least one minister from the Maoist Center when he was sworn in but the party decided not to send any minister to the government without finalizing the merger process.
“Maoist Center will join government. But, It is necessary to conclude the party merger process before expanding the government. Otherwise, it could create confusion and jeopardize the unification mandate,” said Khanal at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.
“Therefore, our top priority is finalizing the merger process because unification is the strong basis for steps ahead,” he added.
The two leftist parties have also failed to formulate a new political line due to ideological difference. The UML leaders are pressing for People’s Multiparty Democracy while Maoist Center is reluctant to give up their ideological line 21st century Democracy.
“The two parties are working on sorting out ideological difference and finding out a new political line. Once we finalize it, the door to unification will swing open,” said Khanal adding, “We are on the final stages of merger process. Probably, it will be concluded in the next few days.”
Pressure mounts as both parties are also at fix over whether to continue the incumbent president and vice-president or select new faces. The two incumbents are pushing for their continuation for second tenure while some senior leaders have claimed stake for themselves. Meanwhile, there is also pressure for Oli to announce date for presidential election as per the constitution. The Election Commission has already proposed March 5 for the presidential election.
Maoist Center Chair Dahal seems to have agreed on repeating the two incumbents’ term, as indirectly proposed by PM Oli. But second rung leaders of both parties are against repeating the same faces.
Khanal said that no decision on this regard have been made it. However, he was hopeful that it will be sorted out positively.