Cabinet formation brings differences into the open

As Koirala was keen to have the Home portfolio for his party, the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist agreed to forego its claim for Ministry of Foreign Affairs. K P Oli, senior leader of the UML will be the new Deputy PM. NC spokesperson Sitaula, was given the Home portfolio as he is to play a crucial role in the negotiation with the Maoists.

While Koirala8217;s party has three members, CPN-UML, Congress Democratic and Left Front have one member each in the Cabinet, which is likely to have 21 members.

NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel8217;s claim to the Home Ministry was turned down by Koirala while UML8217;s Pradeep Nepal resigned from the party8217;s standing committee allegedly for not being told about Home being swapped for Foreign for party leader Oli.

The post of Speaker has also become a contentious issue among the partners with most wanting Deputy Speaker Chitralekha Yadav being elevated to the post, while the UML wants it for its leader Subhash Nembang.