Nepal's new alliance continues negotiating

Kathmandu, Aug 18 : The government's Common Minimum Programme (CMP) has still not been finalised, as the new alliance of Nepal's three major parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA) including the CPN-Maoist, the UML and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) have not yet reached a consensus on the issue of sharing ministerial portfolios.

The leaders of the alliance had previously announced to publicise the Common Minimum Programme at this morning. However, the programme was put off after the three parties could not hold talks this morning.

With the new deadlock looming on, the three parties intensified internal discussions. A meeting of the Maoist central committee is underway here.

The UML and the MPRF are learnt to have denied signing the Common Minimum Programme with the suspicion that the Maoists may betray in the issue of power sharing after signing the papers.

Meanwhile, three party alliance meeting is due to take place later today to find an understanding in sharing ministerial portfolios.

During the meeting on Sunday, the UML claimed its stake for Home and Local Development portfolios, while the Maoists argued that both the ministries should not remain with a single party.

MPRF, on the other hand, has claimed the Water Resources and Foreign Affairs ministries as well as the post of Deputy Prime Minister, Kantipur reported

ANI