Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s busy schedule ahead of his India visit has delayed appointment of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal members as ministers, leaders have said.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s busy schedule ahead of his India visit has delayed appointment of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal members as ministers, leaders have said.
The SSF-N expects the PM’s nod to its participation in government as soon as Oli returns on April 8 from his first foreign visit after taking office.
“The prime minister was ready to sign the agreement [on constitution amendment] when he expanded his Cabinet for the third time but we wanted allocation of ministries [first],” said senior SSF-N leader Ashok Rai, adding that there was no misunderstanding between the government and his party.
He said discussions on the matter would resume once the PM returned from India. As agreed with the ruling parties, the SSF-N was preparing to lead the Urban Development and Water Supply Ministry and the Health Ministry but the party was irked after the water ministry was spun off and Bina Magar appointed to lead it.
SSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav voiced his dissatisfaction at the split of the ministry he was supposed to lead.
“Though other factors were major, breaking the ministry after the agreement with SSF-N was also a reason behind the delay,” said Yadav. “It’s up to PM Oli now. We’re waiting for his response,” he added.
However, Rai said the government was ready to reshuffle ministers as demanded by the SSF-N.
As PM Oli was keen to have a two-thirds majority backing his government, he agreed to give two ministries to the SSF-N with 16 seats in the House of Representatives while also appointing a state minister from the party.
Chairman Yadav, Co-chair Shrestha, lawmakers Renu Yadav, Mohammad Istiyak Rai and Uma Shankar Argariya are the ministerial candidates from the party.
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