Nepal PM's bold move starts fresh political squabble

Ignoring discordant voices from within his party, Nepal PM Jhalanath Khanal handed over the important home ministry on Wednesday evening to Maoists, the dominant coalition partner.

Updated on: May 5, 2011, 14:51:10 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Ignoring discordant voices from within his party, Nepal PM Jhalanath Khanal handed over the important home ministry on Wednesday evening to Maoists, the dominant coalition partner.

But the move that enabled Khanal to give proper shape to his cabinet, three months after taking charge, sparked a fresh squabble in Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), the party he heads.

Leaders in CPN (UML) are unhappy with Khanal for handing over the ministry to Maoists despite non-conclusion of the peace process or any significant progress being made.

"It's a unilateral decision on part of the prime minister to offer Maoists the home ministry without consulting senior leaders," senior CPN (UML) leader Pradeep Gyawali stated.

The move is expected to raise a storm in the party's politburo meeting starting on Thursday with several leaders opposing Khanal.

Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal is also facing flak for naming Krishna Bahadur Mahara as the home minister. Peace minister Barsha Man Pun, who was slated to get the post, has resigned.

Dahal's selection of ministers has been described as "unilateral" by party hardliners headed by vice-chairman Mohan Vaidya. Three ministers close to Vaidya didn't turn up for oath-taking on Wednesday.

Despite Dahal's recent commitment to peace, there is fear that with the home ministry in its kitty, Maoists would grant impunity to cadres involved in rights violations during the civil war and atrocities after it.

"Home affairs would also allow Maoists to control the security apparatus and government administration, and define the course of elections when term of the Constituent Assembly ends," senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit had written in Nepali Times.

The decision to give the home ministry to Maoists is part of a secret seven point agreement between Khanal and Dahal that helped the former reach the prime minister's post in February.

Differences have also cropped up in Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Nepal), the third major party in the five-party coalition, with co-chairman JP Gupta objecting to chairman Upendra Yadav's decision to join the government.

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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