No agreements were made to allocate Home Ministry to UML: Mahat

KATHMANDU, FEB 11 -
Nepali Congress leader Ram Sharan Mahat has claimed that no agreements were made regarding allocating the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance Ministry to the CPN-UML.

However, the UML has claimed that the NC agreed to grant the portfolio to them with an understanding to make them participate in the government.

Talking to ekantipur on Tuesday, Mahat who is also a member in the talks team from the NC said no agreements were forged to provide them the portfolios as being disseminated in the media.

"The UML did expect to take charge of Home Ministry during the meeting but we need to hold discussion with the leadership," Mahat said.

Meanwhile, the UML has claimed not to join the government sans the allocation of Home Ministry.

The final decision is yet to be made as some NC senior leaders are pressuring newly elected Prime Minister Sushil Koirala not to cede the ministry given the prospect of local elections, and to instead maintain a strong hold on the bureaucracy.

While Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel, who is unlikely to join the government, is seeking reward for his loyalty, former Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister  Mahat is also pursuing the post of Deputy Prime Minister, along with one other powerful ministry such as finance, foreign or energy. Other strong contenders for ministerial berths from the NC include Sujata Koirala, Arjun Nar Singh KC, Bimalendra Nidhi and Narayan Khadka.

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