UPDATE ON NEPAL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

By Bhola B. Rana

Kathmandu, 6 Feb.: Prime Minister-elect Jhalanath Khanal Sunday afternoon took his oath of office and secrecy administered by President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav in the presence of party leaders, including NC President Sushil Koirala and other top NC leaders pledging allegiance to the interim constitution.
NC has opposed the communist alliance between UML and Maoists; Khanal is chairman of UML the third largest party in parliament.
Khanal didn’t take swear allegiance to the constitution in the name of God as is traditional..
Maoist Chairman Prachanda was present on the occasion along with other political party leaders and Kathmandu-based foreign diplomats at Shital Niwas.
NC is out of the government.
Khanal didn’t take his oath with a small cabinet as expected following differences between UML and Maoists on sharing of ministerial portfolios.
UML standing committee Sunday decided to sent Bharat Mohan Adhijary as deputy prime minister and Bishnu Paudel and Ganghadhar Tulaldhar, a politburo member, as ministers in government.
An eight-member task force of Maoists and UML couldn’t agree on
division on ministries to be shared by the two parties Sunday,
Maoist standing committee meeting Sunday didn’t appoint its
government team following differences, Maoist leader Deb Gurung said.
Early differences surfaced on sharing of the home portfolio demanded by UML, Gurung said.
Maoists are returning to government after 21 months but under UML leadership.
Prime Minister Prachanda resigned 21 months ago when the ceremonial president intervened at the request of 18 political parties to retain Army Chief Gen. Rukmangud Katawal sacked by the coalition government
then.
Prachanda said Maoists joined the government under UML leadership ruling out chances of a Maoist-led government even as he declared to head the government.
He alluded India was against Maoist leadership of government and Khanal and Prachanda said explicitly the new government was assembled with Nepali genius.
NC central committee said Sunday a secret seven-point agreement
between Prachanda and Khanal was against spirit of a peace
agreement and the interim constitution.
The committee confirmed the party will stay in he opposition.
The break in the seven-month deadlock to appointment a
Government boosted the stock market on the first day of weekly five-day trading Sunday.
The Nepse index gained six points and settled at 412 points
as it gained 10 points in early trading.
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