Nation In New Direction

People have high hopes about the government formed after the parliamentary elections. The voters have expressed their mandate in the ballots and the onus lies in the new government to address the vital problems the nation is facing. Immediately after taking charge of the top executive post of the nation, Prime Minister Prachanda said that the economic situation of the country is on the top priority of the government. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has also emphasised the need to tackle the economic problems as aspired by the people. The nation is poised to take new direction when the new governments in the centre and the provinces move forward in full gear. There is confidence that the grievances of the people will be addressed and the nation will make major strides on the path of development and prosperity.  

With the formation of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda-led government in the centre, the process to form the government in the provinces has also begun after the newly elected Provincial Assembly members took the oath. The political parties representing the Provincial Assemblies have elected their parliamentary party leaders in most of the provinces and have started dialogues with the likeminded parties to form the new government. However, as the seven parties have forged alliance in the centre, the same parties are almost sure to share power in the provinces. As soon as the ruling parties hammer out a package deal on the power sharing, new governments will be formed in all provinces within a few days. 

Although Nepali Congress has emerged as the largest party in the centre and a few provinces, it will not be leading any government because of the new political development of the past week after CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ reached a power sharing deal to form a new coalition and government in the centre as well as in the provinces. The new alliance of the UML, the Maoist Centre, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Janmat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party enjoy a comfortable majority in all seven provinces and one of them will be leading the government there.  

The government in the centre has taken shape with the formation of eight-member Council of Ministers and except for the three Deputy Prime Ministers, the portfolios of four ministers are yet to be fixed. It is hoped that the cabinet will take full shape soon.  The cabinet expansion is likely after Prime Minister Prachanda receives the vote of confidence on January 10, a day after the session of the new House of Representatives convenes.  The leaders of ruling parties are also working to form governments in seven provinces.  

However, it seems the ruling party leaders will take some more time to give final shape to the Prachanda-led government as they have to finalise the package deal on vital posts like President, Vice President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Again, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajbadi Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party are yet to take decision about joining the government or they may have some issues to be addressed before joining the government. Likewise, Prime Minister Prachanda's effort to bring the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) on board is also likely to take some more time.