The Girija Prasad Koirala-led cabinet has finally taken a full shape in the sense that barring the NWPP, which has opted to stay out of the government, others from the constituents of the seven-party alliance (SPA) have been represented in the present arrangement. Three new faces were inducted into the cabinet on Sunday, taking the cabinet size to 21. The new faces are: Amik Sherchan of Janamorcha Nepal, Hridayesh Tripathi of NSP (Anandi Devi) and Gyanendra Karki of NC (D). Sherchan has become the deputy prime minister and will hold the portfolio of health and population. Likewise, Tripathi is given the industry, commerce and supplies ministry, while Karki is the new minister of state for water resources. This is the first time in Nepal’s history that two deputy prime ministers — the other being CPN-UML’s K P Oli — have been appointed. However, the completion of the cabinet formation or its size per se would not make an iota of difference if it did not succeed in fulfilling the people’s heightened aspirations.

Meanwhile, in preparation for a conducive environment, the SPA has made a significant decision of proroguing the ongoing session of House of Representatives for the next three weeks, which will only reopen for the passing of the budget for FY 2006-07. This interlude is expected to provide the SPA and the Maoists extra time to devote on the peace process, instead of squandering valuable time in issuing contradictory statements along with making endless speeches and engage in worthless ribbon-cutting exercises. As is well known, the House, till now, had been busy with passing of the regulations to facilitate enactment of laws, quite apart from debating the formalities pertaining to oath-taking by the civil servants and judicial appointees. Another positive move has no doubt been the brief discussion Home Minister Krishna Sitaula had with Maoist leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai in Sikles of Kaski district on Sunday. None will argue that this is not an opportune moment to clarify the doubts and misgivings that are making hectic rounds at present. Prachanda has gone on record criticising the SPA and vice-versa. The government, too, appears to be losing sense of direction as it is drifting away from the main agenda — holding of the constituent assembly (CA) polls.

But given the latest developments, it is hoped that the SPA and the Maoists will leave no stone unturned to expedite the peace process and announce the date for eagerly awaited second round of talks that will eventually pave the way for holding the CA polls. But prior to this, the complex issue of the Maoists’ arms management will have to be sorted out either through the good offices of the UN or some other credible international agency. Once this is done, the inclusion of the Maoists in the interim government will be just a formality. Then comes the CA polls and momentous job of writing of a new statute as desired by the people. Obviously, all this can be possible only through a genuine and unconditional give-and-take.