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NC race for ministership on, four vying to lead the party in govt. Who will Deuba choose?

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Kathmandu, July 25

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held consultations on formation of a new government with some influential leaders close to him, on Monday morning. This comes right after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down.

A Congress leader said: In talks with leaders working to select members representing the party in the new Cabinet, Deuba has indicated he is also thinking about selection of party office-bearers. He is thinking of selecting office-bearers after forming a new government.

As per the party statute, NC President should have nominated party office-bearers like vice-president and general secretary two months after the general convention. With many party leaders from his camp vying for the office-bearers’ positions, Deuba had channelised his energies in toppling the Oli government together with CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Prachanda, according to the party leader.

Deuba had to topple the Oli government to address aspirations of these leaders, a leader said. Now, appeasing Bimalendra Nidhi is the biggest challenge that Deuba faces.

Nidhi is seeking the post of deputy prime minister in the new government, leadership of the team of ministers that Congress will send to the government and the post of party vice-president. Party leader Khum Bahadur Khadka is also staking claim on the party VP’s post.

Khadka is preparing to leave the Deuba camp with at least five Central Working Committee members if he does not get the post. Deuba, though, is not in favour of giving Khadka the post of VP. If Khadka leaves the camp, Deuba plans to compensate for this loss by bringing Krishna Prasad Sitaula and KB Gurung groups together.

Four in the fray

Meanwhile, a source close to Deuba said party deliberations are focusing on four candidates — Bimalendra Nidhi, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Gopal Man Shrestha and Arjun Narsingh KC — to send to the new government.

Nidhi claims he played a major role in rallying national and international support for bids to topple the Oli government. Apart from DPM’s position, Nidhi is also seeking the post of party VP. Nidhi is piling pressure on Deuba to achieve this by mobilising several power centres, according to a Congress leader.

Bimalendra-sitaula

Deuba reportedly wants to make Gopal Man Singh Shrestha deputy leader of the NC Parliamentary Party and wants him to lead the Congress team in the new government. But NC’s internal power dynamics will not change if Deuba does this.

Sitaula is another contender for the post of deputy prime minister and Home Minister. Arjun Narsingh KC is also demanding the post of DPM, but Deuba is thinking of pacifying him by giving him the ministry of his choosing, Deuba’s aides say.

If Sitaula does not become DPM, Gagan Thapa and Bhimsen Das Pradhan will strive for the position. Purna Bahadur Khadka is another likely candidate for the position of Home Minister.

Ramesh Lekhak, a leader close to Deuba, said: As per a tentative agreement, NC will get 13 ministries in the new Cabinet.

Lekhak, though, adds that there has been no discussion on splitting the spoils.

Confirmed ministers?

Dr Shekhar Koirala, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Balkrishna Khand, Min Bishwokarma and Arjun Joshi are among NC leaders, who will get ministerial berths from the Congress this time. Ram Chandra Poudel is seeking six ministerial positions for his camp, but Deuba is unwilling to grant his wish, an office-bearer says. Poudel camp has forwarded the names of Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Nabindra Raj Joshi, Jivan Pariyar and Kamala Pant for ministerial positions. Dr Koirala is seen as the peacekeeper between the two camps.

NC leader Prakash Man Singh is trying to make sure that Nabindra Raj Joshi does not become minister. Singh is piling pressure on Poudel, pointing that Rajan KC, who defeated Prachanda is second Constituent Assembly elections at Kathmandu constituency 10, should be made state minister.

Deuba is preparing to make Gyanendra Bahadur Karki party general secretary and make Khand a minister. He also plans to make Man Bahadur Bishwokarma joint general secretary and send Min Bishwokarma to the government.

 

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