Kathmandu, Jan 17
The first tussle over power sharing between Nepal's seven-party
government and the Maoists since the rebels joined parliament was
resolved Wednesday with both sides agreeing on a status quo.
Even as the guerrillas returned to parliament Monday, signifying a
formal end to their decade-old armed uprising, fresh tension had
started simmering between them and government over power sharing.
The three major parties in the government and the communist rebels
remained deadlocked over the key parliamentary posts of Speaker and
Deputy Speaker.
The current Speaker, Subhash Nembang, is from the second biggest
party in the government, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified
Marxist Leninist (UML). He was appointed last year after a fierce
tussle with deposed prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Nepali
Congress (Democratic) party, who had to settle for the post of
Deputy Speaker.
"Everything will be changed," Maoist chief Prachanda told the media
on the eve of his party joining parliament. "There will be a new
Speaker and deputy."
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who heads the Nepali Congress,
the biggest party in the new house with 85 legislators, Wednesday
held consultations with Prachanda with leaders of the other parties
joining in afterwards.
Finally, the eight parties agreed to maintain status quo in the new
parliament, deputy PM Amik Sherchan told the media after the
meeting. While Nembang remains Speaker, Chitralekha Yadav keeps her
post as Deputy Speaker.
A formal announcement to this effect will be made when Nepal's new
interim legislature meets Wednesdfay afternoon.
However, Sherchan did not disclose whether the Maoists have been
offered any plum ministerial berth in the cabinet to mollify them.
The Maoists are now the second biggest party in the interim
legislature, along with the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist
Leninist (UML), with both holding 83 seats each.
Reports say the Maoists want the post of deputy prime minister if
they can't get the Speaker's post.
Currently, Nepal has two deputy PMs: K P Oli, a UML member who is
also foreign minister, and Sherchan from People's Front Nepal, who
is also health minister.
The media has already started speculating that Oli will be replaced
by Mahara. Or else, the rebels will jockey for the home minister's
portfolio.
However, Nepali Congress leaders said after Wednesday's meeting that
the allocation of ministries will be divided only when the new
government is formed.
Koirala, who was visited by US ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty
Wednesday, assured the envoy that the Maoists will not be inducted
in the government till the UN certifies that all their arms and
soldiers have been locked up, Koirala's adviser Dr Suresh Chalise
said.
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