But the name-list and size of the cabinet are yet to be finalized. “The prime minister will take his oath and also form a cabinet on Sunday if things go as planned,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.
The Maoists are also holding their standing committee meeting on Sunday to finalize the list of its leaders joining the government. [break]
A meeting between Khanal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday formed an eight-member taskforce to finalize the distribution of ministries and work out a common minimum program for the new government.
The taskforce comprises Narayankaji Shrestha, Posta Bahadur Bogati, Dev Gurung and Dinanath Sharma from the Maoists and Bam Dev Gautam, Ishor Pokharel, Bishnu Poudel and Bharat Mohan Adhikari from UML.
“The meeting will finalize the list after the taskforce settles the distribution of ministries among the parties,” said Shrestha.
Of the 27 ministries, the Maoists are likely to get 12 ministries, UML 8, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) 3, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) 2, and small parties 2.
Maoist party insiders say Krishna Bahadur Mahara is almost sure to lead the party in the government, though the standing committee meeting on Sunday will take the formal decision to that effect.
According to sources, Mahara, Barshaman Pun, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Netra Bikram Chand, Dev Gurung, Jayapuri Gharti Magar and either Giriraj Mani Pokharel or Lila Mani Pokharel are likely to join the cabinet on Sunday.
“We will try our best not to send into the new government those who have already become ministers before,” said one party leader.
Likewise, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Bishnu Poudel and Ghanashyam Bhusal from the UML are also likely to join the government on Sunday. Party leaders said General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel is almost certain not to join the government. “As the chairman has already been elected prime minister, the general secretary should look after the party,” said a top UML leader.
Meanwhile, Jhalanath Khanal has stated that he would give priority to incumbent lawmakers while nominating ministers for the new government.
He said this at the UML parliamentary party meeting on Saturday.
Lawmakers suggested to him that he form a cabinet of moderate size and make it inclusive.
Most lawmakers stated that Khanal should not induct those who were defeated in the Constituent Assembly (CA) election. They argued that the outgoing government was unpopular as most of the ministers had been defeated in the election, and requested Khanal not to repeat the same mistake.
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