CPN-UML to join Nepal govt after deadlock broken with NC

The sulking CPN-UML has decided to join the Sushil Koirala-led Nepalese government after the Nepali Congress today agreed to break stalemate and hand over the key Home portfolio to it after weeks of hectic negotiations over power-sharing.
CPN-UML's central committee meeting endorsed the seven-point agreement reached between the two parties and decided to join the Koirala-led government under the leadership of Vice President of the party Bam Dev Gautam.
The Nepali Congress has decided to hand the key Home Ministry to the CPN-UML, The Himalayan Times reported.
Later, a meeting between Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML was held as the leaders of both the parties were yet to come to an agreement about the division of other ministries.

"The talks were heading towards a positive direction, however, no decision was taken today," CPN-UML standing committee member Pradip Gyawali said.
"We have decided to join the government provided the 7 point pact between the Nepali Congress is implemented," he said.

The CPN-UML - the second largest party with 173 lawmakers in the 601-member Constituent Assembly - boycotted the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Koirala and no legislator from the party was inducted in the cabinet.
The CPN-UML backed Koirala for the top post after the party reached a six-point deal with the Nepali Congress which has 194 lawmakers in the assembly elected last year.

Chairman of the CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal alleged that the Nepali Congress had backtracked from the agreement and threatened to stay away from the government, casting a shadow on the ability of the new administration to deliver a new constitution within a year.
The first assembly, dominated by the one-time rebel Maoists, collapsed in May 2012 after failing to agree on a Constitution and complete the peace process. No party could secure a majority in last year's Constituent Assembly polls.