Concerns over future of new Nepal govt as differences over cabinet berths emerge between ruling allies

Kathmandu: Questions are already being raised over the future of the new Nepal government, a day after CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli was sworn in as prime minister, as no ministers from ally CPN-Maoist Centre have been included in the Cabinet.The government was formed with the support of the CPN-Maoist Centre — the third largest party in parliament — which has 53 seats, but no Maoist ministers were part of the Cabinet during the oath-taking ceremony on Thursdy where Oli was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister for the second time.[caption id="attachment_4352069" align="alignleft" width="380"]

File image of Nepal prime minister KP Sharma Oli. AFP[/caption]According to sources close to the CPN-Maoist Centre, the Maoist leaders did not take oath after their demand for the portfolio of the deputy prime minister was turned down by Oli.It is learnt that CPN-UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel is eyeing the post of deputy prime minister in the new Cabinet.Known for his pro-China stance, Oli had earlier served as the country's prime minister from 11 October, 2015 to 3 August, 2016.His candidacy was supported by the CPN-Maoist, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, and Madhesi Rights Forum-Democratic along with 13 other small parties.CPN-UML secured only 121 seats in the 275-member Parliament, which is short of minimum 50 per cent plus seats to garner majority support.The new government needs support from at least 138 members. The combined strength of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist is 174, which is thus more than sufficient to form a government.But Oli needs to win a vote of confidence in parliament within a month of his appointment. The Cabinet has to recommend to the president the date to summon the first session of the new parliament.The Constitution has a mandatory provision for a prime minister appointed with the support of two or more parties to win a vote of confidence from parliament within a month of his or her appointment.Oli had submitted the decision of the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre claiming his appointment as prime minister, in line with clause 2 of Article 76 of the Constitution."Prime Minister Oli himself will soon table a motion in parliament in a bid to win a vote of confidence," said senior CPN-UML leader Agni Kharel. According to this mandatory provision, Oli must win the confidence vote by 15 March.As the CPN-Maoist Centre had refused to join the ministry after power-sharing negotiations failed between the two big parties, Oli appointed only two ministers, both from his own party, to his Cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony.However, newly-appointed Minister for Population and Environment Lal Babua Pandit claimed that the Maoists will join the Cabinet within a few days.He said the Cabinet will be expanded within a couple of days with the inclusion of ministers from the CPN-Maoist Centre.