Kathmandu, June 6
Relations between two partners in the KP Oli-led ruling coalition — CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centtre (erstwhile UCPN-Maoist) — are not hunky-dory these days. Straining the ties further, PM and CPN-UML President KP Sharma Oli is pressing Maoist Chair Prachanda to recall Maoist leader and Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet. On its part, the Maoist party has said it will not recall Minister Basnet just because the PM and the UML tell it to do so.
A Maoist leader told Onlinekhabar about the issue: Yes, PM Oli is seeking to replace Home Minister. But we will not give in to outside pressure. Our party will take an appropriate decision on the matter.
At Sunday’s meeting with Maoist Chair Prachanda, PM Oli had expressed dissatisfaction over Home Minister Basnet’s role. He had accused Minister Basnet of insubordination.
A CPN-UML leader said a meeting of the party has decided to remind Home Minister Basnet to work in close coordination with PM Oli. Of late, dispute between PM Oli and Home Minister Basset has deepened, with PM Oli intervening in Home Minister Basnet’s plans to transfer chief district officers. In this case, Home Minister Basnet has accused PM Oli of undermining the Home Ministry’s jurisdiction, whereas PM Oli has accused Basnet of insubordination.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s meeting of the UML standing committee concluded that all members of the Council of Ministers should work in close coordination. Disputes between ministers should not come to the surface, it pointed and questioned Home Minister’s role in the whole episode.
On its part, the Maoist party said it will not replace government ministers just because the UML wants it to do so. A Maoist leader told Onlinekhabar: We will review the performance of Supplies Minister, Minister for General Administration and Home Minister within the party fold. But we will not recall our ministers just because the UML tells us to do so.
According to a source, PM Oli wants to make minor changes in the Council of Ministers by replacing Home Minister Basnet and Supplies Minister Ganesh Man Pun.
