Prachanda, Nepal hold meeting, discuss Cabinet expansion

KATHMANDU, Aug 1: Chairman of CPN (Maoist Center), Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and senior leader of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal held a meeting on Sunday morning. 

Meeting between the leaders duo takes place at a time when the new government formed under the premiership of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is yet to get its full shape. The Deuba-led government has only six Cabinet members including the prime minister,  four ministers and a minister of State. 

Prachanda reached at the Koteshwor-based private residence of leader Nepal , according to a source close to Prachanda. During the meeting, leader Nepal was asked to join the Deuba-led Cabinet. 

Prime Minister Deuba has also been urging the UML’s Nepal faction to join the government as the lawmakers close to it extended their support when Deuba won a trust motion on July 18. 

Leader Nepal, who is leading the dissident faction in the main opposition UML, said that they can join the government immediately as they have been making attempts to ensure party unity.