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Nepal has entered into a new political deadlock after the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala failed to expand his cabinet due to the non-cooperation from the coalition partner CPN-UML, leaders said on Sunday.
It has been one week since the Koirala, a socialist democratic leader, was elected as the country's prime minister, but he has not been able to form a cabinet. The second largest party CPN-UML, which agreed to be a coalition partner, is refusing to join the government due to dispute over ministerial portfolios. There have not been any talks between two parties as the dispute escalated.
The UML has demanded that it should get Home Ministry, a ministry which has a direct command on key security agencies of the country. However, PM Koirala's party Nepali Congress (NC) is saying that sensitive Home Ministry portfolio could not be granted to the coalition partner.
"We will not join the government if Home Ministry is not granted to our party according to previous agreements," said CPN- UML Secretary Bishnu Poudel at a program this week.
The delay in formation of cabinet has affected the constitution drafting process andleft the country in political deadlock.
PM Koirala, on Saturday reached out to third largest party UCPN (Maoist), seeking support for his government if CPN-UML does not join the government.
"We will support government if UML stays out of the government because we need a stable government," UCPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told reporters after the meeting with PM Koirala.
