‘UML-Maoist Center unification announcement likely in mid-March’

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal have directed the taskforces formed to manage the organizational structure and political guideline of the new party to submit their report within 15 days.

The two leaders instructed the taskforces to prepare and submit the report before March 9 during a joint meeting held at prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday.

The two parties on Monday (Feb 19) had reached a seven-point agreement on party unification, and had formed two task forces to finalize the organizational structure and political guideline.

UML’s Ishwor Pokhrel, Bishnu Poudel, Gokarna Bista, Beduram Bhusal, Raghubir Mahaseth and Maoist Center’s Ram Bahadur Thapa, Girirajmanio Pokhrel, Barsaman Pun and Janardan Sharma are in the task force formed to finalize the organizational structure of the party, whereas UML’s Madhav Kumar Nepal, Bhim Rawal, Subash Nembang, Pradip Gyawali and Raghuji Panta and Maoist Center’s Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Dev Gurung, Shakti Basnet, Pampha Bhusal and Devendra Poudel are in the task force to finalize the political guideline.

After the two task forces will submit their reports, a final homework will be done before announcing the party unification, according to Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

“It will probably take until mid-March to announce party unification,” Shrestha added.

Meanwhile, the two chairs have also agreed to form 18 ministries. The Constitution of Nepal allows the government to form a maximum of 25 ministries.

The previous General Administration had recommended 15 ministries.