Dhangadi, February 16

The left alliance has intensified discussion on forming the cabinet in Province 7 as Trilochan Bhatta is set to be sworn in as the chief minister of the province tomorrow.

Bhatta was chosen as the chief minister as per an agreement between left alliance partners CPN-MC and CPN-UML.

UML Province 7 in-charge Bhim Rawal and his CPN-MC counterpart Lekhraj Bhatta held a meeting today to discuss seat sharing in the provincial government. The meeting also decided to hold intra-party discussion on government formation.

According to UML provincial lawmaker Purna Joshi, two rounds of the party’s internal meeting ended inconclusively. “As our party is yet to choose the PP leader, our discussions have yielded no result,” Joshi said. She also expressed confidence that the party would take a decision on power sharing by tomorrow morning. On the other hand, the CPN-MC is also busy in internal discussion within the party on the matter. “We will first discuss sharing of ministries, then decide whom to send to the ministries,” CPN-MC provincial lawmaker Mahesh Joshi said.

CPN-MC is likely to get 2 ministries in the 7 member provincial cabinet. Chances are said to be high for Jhapat Bohara, Man Bahadur Dhami and Prem Prakash Bhatta for the post from the party.