Kathmandu, January 28

The Unified CPN-Maoist, which is a major partner of the CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government, today decided to hold talks with Prime Minister Oli regarding the ‘poor performance’ of the government.

The decision was taken during the three-day standing committee meeting of the party that concluded here today. Party’s ministers were also present during the meeting.

UCPN-M’s decision to express its official dissatisfaction over government’s performance has been linked to UCPN-M’s Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent statements that national government would be formed after the Nepali Congress’s National Convention.

However, UCPN-M standing committee member Lokendra Bista Magar claimed that the party was not in a position to leave the government right away. He said things would be clearer only after the conclusion of NC’s National General Convention.

“It was also decided to hold a meeting of the High-Level Political Coordination Committee led by UCPN-M chairman,” said party Vice-chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha following the meeting.

HLPCC was formed to support the government in its activities and discuss with the coalition partners ways to improve the government’s performance.

Shrestha said the ministers from the party were told to do result-oriented work with periodic action plan. Ministers had confessed that they failed to deliver despite their attempts to work as per the aspirations of the people.

After they briefed the standing committee about their performance so far, party leaders vehemently criticised the ministers for failing to deliver.

Oli-led government has been criticised for failing to meet the needs of the quake affected people on time, control black marketing, resolve the Tarai crisis and get the blockade at Nepal-India border points lifted.

UCPN-M ministers told party leaders that they had assumed charge as ministers at a difficult time and had not been able to deliver despite making serious efforts.

The meeting also urged Shrestha to withdraw his resignation from the post of Coordinator of the Government Operation Coordination and Cooperation Committee of the party and carry out the tasks more effectively.

Shrestha had stepped down from the post, claiming that the party chair should himself lead the committee.

Agriculture minister and party’s treasurer Haribol Gajurel said UCPN-Maoist ministers would leave the government if that would serve the party’s interest.