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 Sher Bahadur Deuba (File Photo)

Senior Nepali Congress leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed his displeasure over the appointment of Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala as Deputy Prime Minister last week at the pressure of her father and party president Girija Prasad Koirala.

Speaking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport on his return to the capital after a weeklong India visit Saturday, Deuba said Sujata’s promotion in the cabinet has hurt the sentiment of the party. Saying that he has taken Sujata’s elevation to DPM ‘very seriously’, Deuba maintained that the appointment episode will prove disadvantageous not only to the NC but also to Sujata.

On the contrary, NC ministers loyal to Deuba including irrigation minister Bal Krishna Khad and energy minister Prakash Sharan Mahat have openly defended Sujata’s elevation.

During the NC central working committee meeting last week, Sujata had  a verbal spat with vice president Ram Chandra Poudel, who criticised the party president for recommending her to the post of DPM without seeking consent from the CWC. Majority of CWC members spoke against her promotion, but Sujata sharply reacted to them.

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 Sujata Koirala (File Photo)

Meanwhile, DPM Sujata, who leads the NC in the UML-led coalition cabinet, has warned NC leaders against seeking an alternative to the current government.

Speaking to a group of journalists who were at her Mandikhatar residence Saturday, she also claimed that the current ruling coalition would be intact until the new constitution is issued and fresh elections held.

She also claimed that a meeting of top leaders of the three major parties will arrive at a consensus on ending the current deadlock. nepalnews.com