Cabinet reshuffle: PM may induct 9 new Maoist ministers today

• Dahal, Khanal hold separate press conferences in bid to ease tensions

Bhadra Sharma

KATHMANDU, AUG 01 - After a week of agonising and barbed rhetoric between the two ruling parties, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal held a tit-for-tat conciliatory press conference barely two hours after UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held his own. The PM suggested that some new Maoist ministers will be sworn in on Monday.

Sunday’s press conference puts a lid on a series of duelling statements that emanated from both Baluwatar and Paris Danda over the week. Both Khanal and Dahal sought to rein in public bickering, while promising substantial progress on peace and constitution before Aug 31. However, Khanal asked the Maoists to withdraw the resignation of their ministers and hand him the list of new ministers. “They [Maoists] should withdraw the resignation of their ministers and give me their new list as per the agreement held between us,” Khanal told journalists at the press meet at his official residence in Baluwatar.

Minister for Prime Minister’s Office Affairs Ghanshyam Bhusal said both Khanal and Dahal have agreed to induct nine new faces from the Maoist party in the government and complete re-grouping of former Maoist combatants before Aug 31. Khanal tried to reach out to Nepali Congress leaders in the past week, telling them that he intended to induct nine ministers from the Maoist party. “I talked with Nepali Congress President [Sushil Koirala] this morning regarding the completion of the peace process and he is positive about moving forward,” Khanal said.

Prime ministerial aides have told the Post over the weekend that Khanal is willing only to replace the existing ministers with the same set of new ministers and that he will not induct all the 24 names recommended by the Maoists.

Khanal also hailed the Maoist decision to continue to work towards completing the peace process and regrouping of their former combatants before Aug 31.

“A national unity government will be formed only after ensuring significant progress in the peace process. I have been working actively towards that end,” he said. The PM also offered to resign if he failed to make progress. According to a senior NC leader, the PM has told Koirala that he would step down within 10 days if he fails to persuade the Maoists in beginning the combatant regrouping process.

Meanwhile, Khanal called on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav late on Sunday evening and informed him of the Cabinet reshuffle that may take place. Khanal is under pressure from his party—CPN-UML—to quit immediately and pave way for a national consensus government instead of reshuffling the Cabinet. Khanal, however, said that it was the prime ministerial prerogative to reconstitute the Cabinet.