Dispute over cabinet portfolio allocations mar seven-party agreement
Big three parties who claimed to have reached consensus on major political issues failed to ink the agreement, late evening Friday, due to differences over the allocations of cabinet portfolio in the council of ministers, which is to be reconstituted to pave the way for the Maoists rejoining it.
The seven party-meeting scheduled this afternoon at Baluwatar ended without even formally starting. According to C. P. Mainali, general secretary of CPN (ML), the big three parties postponed the seen-party till Saturday morning.
Krishna Bahadur Mahara, leader of the Maoists, told reporters that denial of the Nepali Congress to agree on some technical issues was the cause of parties failing to ink the agreement on Friday. He even blamed that NC did not wish to hold the meeting of the seven parties.
However, other leaders emerging out from the meeting refused to reveal the cause of the failure to sign the pact.
It is learnt that Nepali Congress has refused re-distributing the ministries. NC has proposed that the parties must take charge of the same ministries they are holding at present.
Maoists have been demanding the portfolio of deputy prime minister and one of the three plum ministries among Home, Defense and Finance. UML has proposed that it should be given the Ministry of Home.
After failing to arrive at an agreement on redistribution of the ministries, the leaders of four smaller parties who had reached Baluwatar as invitees, were informed that the seven party meeting had been suspended until Saturday.
Earlier, the top three parties had arrived at consensus on major political issues. The meeting of the top brass of the Nepali Congress, UML and the Maoists held in the morning at Baluwatar had finalised the points of consensus.
According to the leaders, the top three parties have agreed to state republic in the interim constitution on the condition that it is endorsed by the first sitting of the constituent assembly.
Similarly, the parties have agreed on election system with 60 percent members of the constituent assembly to be elected through proportional system and 40 percent through first-past-the-post system.
The cabinet meeting scheduled for this morning was postponed until the seven parties take final decision. The cabinet meeting is to endorse the seven-party agreement.
The parties have the critical deadline of one day left to find a solution to avoid constitutional void. In the interim constitution, the parties had mentioned to hold the constituent assembly by mid December. However, some leaders said since the provision is under the 'directive policy of the state', delay in reaching consensus will not create any constitutional problem. nepalnews.com ia Dec 14 07
