Kathmandu, January 12

Ministers without portfolio from the CPN-Maoist Centre today resigned en masse.

CPN-MC leader Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, who was also the minister without portfolio tendered his resignation letter along with a letter from his party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Prime Minister Deuba had stripped CPN-MC ministers of their portfolios after the CPN-MC forged electoral alliance with the CPN-UML on October 17.

Accusing the government of hatching conspiracy to foil provincial and the parliamentary elections, CPN-MC ministers continued to hold ministerial berths without portfolio in the Deuba-led Cabinet.

In the letter, Dahal has accused the prime minister of trying to delaying formation of the new government as per the people’s mandate and the National Assembly election.  “Instead of taking initiative to form a new government as per the people’s mandate, the government is misusing state coffers and taking decisions, which should not be taken by a  caretaker government,” reads the letter.

The resignation letters were submitted at the Cabinet meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, according to PM’s Press Coordinator Govinda Pariyar.

Meanwhile, CPN-MC leader Pokhrel said he would not return salary and allowances provided by the government after October 17. “I have informed party chairman about my decision,” said Pokhrel.  CPN-MC leader Janardan Sharma too had announced that he would return salary and allowance received after he became minister without portfolio.