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Kiran Sah, an independent lawmaker elected to the House of Representatives from Rautahat-2, has joined the CPN-UML. UML Publicity Department Deputy Chief Bishnu Rijal said that Sah joined the party on Monday evening. Rijal said that UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli welcomed him amidst a program held in Balkot. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel among others were present in the program. With Sah joining the party, the UML now has 79 seats in the House of Representatives. Sah had defeated Nepali Congress candidate Phirdos Alam by a margin of 4, 594 votes. He secured 32, 842 votes while his closest contender Alam garnered 28, 248 votes.  

CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal said that his party cannot join the ruling coalition. During a politburo meeting held on Monday, Nepal said that his party cannot join the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government. “We are doing good in the current political situation. We are not going to bow down just for joining the government.  Our party cannot join the ruling alliance. We want to move ahead by keeping the country's interests at the center,” he said. A Standing Committee meeting held on Saturday and Sunday had failed to make a decision on the issue of supporting the government. Leaders within the party have been expressing differing views on the issue of taking part in the government. Some leaders have been saying that they should only support the current government while some have stressed that they should participate in the government.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will take the vote of confidence on January 10. Prime Minister Dahal wrote to the Federal Parliamentary Secretariat General Secretary Bharat Raj Gautam to make arrangements for him to take the vote of confidence on January 10. He will take the vote of confidence in the meeting of the Parliament. Dahal, who is also the Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center), presented the claim for the top executive post with the support of 169 lawmakers. He took the oath of office and secrecy from President Bidya Devi Bhandari on December 26. There is a provision in the Constitution of Nepal that the PM should take the vote of confidence within 30 days of being appointed to the post. CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, and Janamat Party are the ruling coalition parties. Three independent lawmakers are also in the ruling alliance. Dahal became the prime minister with the support of seven political parties and three independent lawmakers.  

After the breakup of the erstwhile ruling coalition, the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (United Socialist) seems to be in a dilemma on whether to join the government or stay in the opposition. After its split with the CPN-UML, it’s a given that the two parties are not on good terms. Many critics argue that the new ruling coalition under the CPN (Maoist Center) and the CPN-UML has endangered the future of the newly formed CPN (US). Against this backdrop, Pratik Ghimire of ApEx talked to Jagannath Khatiwada, deputy general secretary and head of the party’s publicity department.

Who do you think is responsible for the breakup of the previous coalition? Nepali Congress or the CPN (Maoist Center)?

For me, both parties are equally responsible. Sher Bahadur Deuba had pledged Pushpa Kamal Dahal premiership (for the first half of the five-year term), but he reneged on his promise. Congress, at first, cheated the Maoist Center. Partners in the previous coalition have always felt that Congress was dominating and insulting. Dahal had reiterated that he would never break the coalition for position and power. What he did is there for all to see. Dahal broke the coalition in the interest of regressive forces. So, he is responsible too.

Leaders of the Maoist Center point out that UML had shown regressive tendencies during the previous parliament. In their eyes, is the UML regressive no more?

That force was regressive a couple of days ago as well. After offering premiership to the Maoist party, the UML is no longer regressive? It has become progressive, automatically? Our party has no problem with the Maoist Chair Dahal becoming the prime minister. But he quit the previous ruling coalition without discussing the matter or giving anything in writing. That's where the problem lies.

Is it right for your party to join the new ruling coalition?

We have seen UML’s behavior and even experienced their domination for quite long. So, we will hold discussions within the party and think it through before making a decision. On what terms has this coalition taken shape? We have no idea. We have a bit of time to think about these things and make a decision. Our party will wait, watch and decide.

Are there any discussions in your party about merging with the Maoist Center or the UML?

It is not an agenda of the party’s working committee. But a few rounds of talks took place on the matter and we were positive on starting homework for the road ahead. But this chapter is closed for now.

Then when will we see expansion of your party organization at the district and local level?

The standing committee of the party has already met. Our party will soon call meetings of the central committee and the politburo. These meetings will decide our further political course and expansion of the party organization. We are committed to making long-term plans for the party.