Top leaders of Nepal’s ruling coalition met on Tuesday to discuss a power-sharing arrangement but failed to agree on a deal, according to a party official.During the meeting at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-Unified Socialist chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal and Nepal Samajwadi Party leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai discussed various issues. Matters relating to power sharing, cabinet expansion and common minimum programme of the ruling alliance mainly featured during the meeting, said Ganesh Shah, the secretary of CPN-Maoist Centre. Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Chair Mahantha Thakur, Janamat Party chief Dr. CK Raut, Nagarik Unmukti Party chairperson Shrestha, Rashtriya Janamorcha chairperson were also present during the meeting. “During the meeting, the leaders of the ruling parties agreed on the common programme presented by Prime Minister Prachanda,” Shah told PTI.Though no agreement could be reached regarding the power sharing deal, they have agreed to expand the cabinet at the earliest, according to Shah.The ruling alliance leaders have decided to meet again on Wednesday morning to finalise the power sharing deal, he added. The 68-year-old ‘Prachanda’ has twice secured a vote of confidence in parliament, winning the second floor test within three months, an outcome he said would provide stability to his government.
Power sharing and the distribution of ministerial portfolios have become major bottlenecks among the members of the ruling alliance as the demand for cabinet posts is exceeding the number of ministries available, according to political observers.