Kathmandu : A joint meeting of the parties affiliated to the ruling coalition is underway. UML’s Madhav Nepal faction is also represented in the meeting.

The meeting is held at the official residence of the Prime Minister, Baluwatar, to complete the cabinet and discuss the government’s minimum common program.

The meeting is attended by senior leaders Ram Chandra Poudel, General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka and Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Chairman of the Maoist Center Prachanda. From JSP President Upendra Yadav, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Ashok Rai and Janamorcha president Chitra Bahadur KC are participating.

The UML’s Madhav Nepal faction is also represented in the ruling coalition meeting. Dr.vijay paudel from Nepal Group. A Baluwatar source said that Vijay Poudel was participating in the meeting. However, the issue of UML joining the government has not been decided yet.

Though Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba was appointed as the Prime Minister on July 13, he has not been able to complete the cabinet so far. Currently, the government has two ministers each from the Congress and the Maoists and one minister of state.

A leader close to Prime Minister Deuba said that preparations are being made to expand the cabinet to include the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP). The leader said, “Now that the dispute over the legitimacy of the JSP has been resolved, the cabinet will be expanded.” The prime minister has called a meeting to discuss the issue.