Kathmandu March 15

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav decided to expand the Cabinet tomorrow, but they failed to reach agreement on the portfolios and the names of ministers.

The three leaders held a meeting at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar this evening and they will hold a meeting tomorrow morning to finalise issues, sources said.

According to sources FSF-N might not join the government tomorrow, but PM Oli will expand the Cabinet comprising CPN-UML and CPN-MC lawmakers. PM Oli had sought names of ministers from FSF-N, but Yadav did not give the names, a source said.

CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had said that the Cabinet would be expanded today after meeting PM Oli yesterday. The meeting was supposed to finalise the names and portfolios today but they could not agree.

PM Oli and Dahal have reached understanding whereby the CPN-UML will get 10 ministries including prime minister, CPN-MC will have six and Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal two.

Earlier, the two parties had agreed that the UML would get 11 ministries and the CPN-MC 7. However, the two parties allocated one ministry each from their quota to the FSF-N. Oli and Dahal have agreed not to exceed 18 ministries. As per the constitution, the number of ministers, including state and assistant ministers, should not exceed 25.

According to sources, CPN-MC leaders Barshman Pun, Giriraj Mani Pokharel and Bina Magar are likely to become ministers. One portfolio will be given to CPN-MC leader Janardan Sharma or Shakti Basnet from Province 6.

CPN-UML lawmakers Pradip Gyawali, Gokarna Bista, Raghubir Mahasheth and Basanta Nembang are likely to become ministers.