Kathmandu: Nepal`s second largest communist party CPN-UML on Tuesday agreed to join the Maoist-led national unity government and forwarded the names of its two leaders to represent the party in the Cabinet.
CPN-UML`s general secretary Ishwor Pokharel and leader of the party Radha Gyawali are set to join the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai-led government on Wednesday. They will be sworn-in as ministers tomorrow, CPN-UML sources told a news agency.
Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha confirmed this, saying "we have received the names of two leaders from UML."
“They will be sworn in tomorrow," he told reporters.
Nepali Congress and Joint Democratic Madhesi Front have already joined the unity government. The three parties control more than two-thirds of the 601-seat assembly, meaning their proposals are likely to be adopted.
This will complete the formation of a national unity government paving way for the parties to agree on a long-awaited new constitution, said UML leader Bhim Rawal.
The three parties have also agreed to adopt mixed type of governance system and to divide Nepal into 11 federal states.
Under the mixed system, the directly elected president with a limited powers will act as head of the state while the Prime Minister elected through the Parliament vested with executive powers will act as head of government. The supremacy of the Parliament will be maintained under this.
However, the Madhesi parties have rejected the 11 state model agreed by the three major parties.
Sadbhawana Parry chief Rajendra Mahato said that they have serious objection to the model of 11 federal provinces floated by the Maoists and two major political parties.
PTI
