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Cabinet expansion delayed as Maoists engage in further deliberations

The expected expansion of the cabinet could not take place, Friday, as the internal deliberations of the Maoists are set to continue.

The meeting of the central committee secretariat of the Maoists held at Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar, Friday failed to name the additional Maoist leaders who would be joining the cabinet. The Maoist leaders have said they will continue deliberations to induct other parties including the 'smaller parties.'

According to Maoist spokesperson and Information Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has been entrusted to select Maoist leaders on the basis of principle of inclusion to be inducted in the cabinet.

As such, the expansion of the cabinet set for Friday has been put off till Sunday.

Meanwhile, reports have said that there are dissensions within the Maoist leadership regarding giving the second position in the cabinet to Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) leader Bamdev Gautam. Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai who enjoys the second position, currently, is said to be unhappy over the decision to let the UML get seniority over him. But these reports could not be confirmed.

At present, there are nine members in the cabinet including PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and four ministers, each, of Maoists and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).

Meanwhile, UML general secretary Jhal Nath Khanal has informed that his party will join the government after PM Dahal informed him of his willingness to induct Gautam in second position. nepalnews.com sd Aug 29 08