Home Ministry: A Bone of Contention between UML, MJF

Kathmandu, June 16: When President Dr Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath of office and secrecy to him, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal might not have imagined that sharing ministerial berths among coalition partners would be such a troublesome job. But three weeks down the lane, Nepal is facing real trouble in sharing ministerial berths among coalition partners.

Though Nepal succeeded in forging a general understanding with the Nepali Congress regarding the sharing of ministerial portfolios, he has not been able to make peace with the Madhes-based parties. The latter have been demanding a respectable space in the coalition government, with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) staking claim on the Home Ministry and another powerful ministry. Interestingly, the UML has already nominated its leader Bhim Rawal to head the Home Ministry. The situation further aggravated after Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala Monday requested PM Nepal to give Home Ministry to the MJF.

The PM is now caught in a dilemma. In one hand he is getting pressure from his party not to leave Home Ministry at any cost, on the other hand other coalition partners want the PM to give Home Ministry to the MJF. Nepal must take the Madhes-based parties in confidence to sustain his coalition government.

Now, the PM is left with only option: To forge a consensus in his party to leave the party's claim on Home Ministry. However, it will be difficult for the PM to take his party leaders into confidence, considering the division of party leaders into separate camps led by party president Jhala Nath Khanal, influential leader KP Sharma Oli and himself.

Meanwhile, the MJF is expected to renew its claim on the power-sharing meeting scheduled later on Tuesday. The meeting can't be expected to take a concrete decision in finalising cabinet, unless the UML decides to take back its claim on Home Ministry.