Nepal PM gives Maoists home ministry to save post

The ongoing political drama of twists and turns in Nepal continued on Wednesday with Maoists retracting from their earlier stance and deciding to join the Jhalanath Khanal government.

Updated on: Feb 16, 2011, 15:53:51 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The ongoing political drama of twists and turns in Nepal continued on Wednesday with Maoists retracting from their earlier stance and deciding to join the Jhalanath Khanal government.

The development came after the Prime Minister agreed to hand over the important home ministry to the larger coalition partner despite stiff opposition with aim of saving the new government.

Despite voting the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) chief to power, Maoists had earlier decided to stay out of government following a tussle over the home portfolio.

On Wednesday, Khanal and Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' reached an agreement that the largest party in parliament would get 11 ministries including home and foreign affairs.

The CPN (UML) would get eight ministries including finance and the Deputy PM portfolio while the other ministries will be allotted to smaller parties joining the coalition.

Local media quoted senior Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun that Maoist ministers are likely to be sworn in on Thursday.

Pun, a former deputy chief of Peoples' Liberation Army, the military wing of Maoists is likely to get the home portfolio while the party's external affairs chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara could be the next foreign minister.

Despite assuming charge 10 days ago, Khanal's government has not started functioning effectively as only three ministers have been sworn in till date.

The new PM has been facing flak from party colleagues including predecessor Madhav Kumar Nepal for keeping others in the dark about his secret deal for power with Prachanda.

There are reservations on giving the home ministry to Maoists as well as clauses in the deal on forming a separate security force for Maoist combatants and heading the government on rotational basis.

Nepali Congress, a coalition partner in the previous CPN (UML)-led government, other smaller parties and political experts had also cautioned Khanal against giving the home ministry to Maoists.

Reports on Prachanda telling cadres that the ministry would help withdraw cases of rights abuse against party members and boost plans for a peoples' revolt have led to such fears.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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