Kathmandu, August 20
As Bagmati Province moves through the final stages of forming its new government, the coalition partners have been working out how to divide ministries and responsibilities among themselves.
Under the arrangement, the CPN-UML will hold two ministries, including the chief minister’s post; the Nepal Communist Party will get two ministries, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) will get three.
Despite internal disputes within the party, RPP, which has extended support to the government, is preparing to induct Rajendra Prajapati, Raju Bista and Gir Bahadur Tamang as ministers, though which portfolios they will receive has not yet been finalised.
RPP provincial assembly member Raju Bista, who is among those set to become minister, told Onlinekhabar that the oath-taking ceremony has been scheduled for 4 pm today.
“The ministers’ oath is set for 4 pm. We decided for our parliamentary party and extended support to the government,” he said.
RPP parliamentary party leader Uddhav Thapa had earlier sent a letter expressing support for Kiran Thapa Magar, the UML leader set to become chief minister in Bagmati. However, RPP chief whip Kumari Tamang sent a separate letter to Province Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota, claiming that the support extended to the government was unauthorised.
Accusing party leader Thapa of acting against party policy, RPP is reportedly preparing disciplinary action against him. Bista, however, said he was unconcerned about this. Asked by Onlinekhabar how they would proceed if the party moved to take action, he said, “I don’t know what that’s about. Let’s wait and see what happens.”
He also said that Kumari Tamang, who has filed a no-confidence motion against parliamentary party leader Thapa, is no longer chief whip.
“She has already been removed,” Bista said.
