Energy Minister Barsha Man Pun has said this government will serve for five years.
There is a simmering tension between the two CPN chairmen, Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, after Dahal publicly reminded about the agreement to take turn with Oli as PM.
Ministers coming from the erstwhile CPN-UML have been publicly stating that Oli will serve the full five-year term but those with Maoist background are not speaking in support of Dahal.
Dahal has repeatedly called Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Pun, Forest Minister Shakti Basnet and others to his residence in Khumaltar and urged them to speak in his favor. But no minister from erstwhile CPN (Maoist Center) has spoken about change at the helm of the government.
"Our party has got the mandate for five years now," Pun was noncommittal even in the interview with Setopati.
"The two leaders apparently sat together and agreed to take turn to lead the government," he conceded. But the pointed that the situation is new and the leaders can also reach a new agreement or move forward in accordance to the previous agreement. "It is an issue of the party taking a decision in a new context. I, therefore, don't think we should create rumors as if the current government is going to fall immediately or a new PM is taking over the reins."
He reiterated that the Oli government will serve for another 13 months if the prior agreement is implemented or can serve for the full term of five years if there is a new agreement. "The party has yet to tell that it will not honor the agreement between the two chairmen. It will be wise to wait for the party's official decision until the two leaders sit together and tell us that they reached a new agreement."
He conceded that there were some weaknesses on the part of the government while bringing the guthi bill which has since been withdrawn following widespread criticism. "We should discuss with different levels of government, intellectuals, civil society and stakeholders concerned while formulating each policy. It was as if we did not pay attention in some instances," he stated.
"We could not properly identify the problems and address them. We must hold a dialogue with the people while bringing changes in any structure. We have learnt a lesson that there can be a gap between the thinking of the people and the government if we don't do so."
He also urged Netra Bikram Chand to renounce violence and start peaceful politics. "We fought together in the past. Do function as a watchdog if we do anything wrong even now. Do create an alternative force. But do what you want to do in a peaceful manner," he said addressing Chand by his nom de guerre Biplav.
"The socialism they want is in the Constitution. Why should we fire guns and detonate bombs when we can change everything except independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity?" he asked.
He also defended the use of force by the government against Chand-led CPN. "Nobody wants to finish him by killing him or suppress him. What has happened is the government has opted for reaction in proportion to the action he has done," he elaborated. "What would he have done if he were home minister when that man was killed in Nakkhu bomb explosion? Would he have called the person who detonated the bomb to the Open Air Theater and felicitate the person or bring the perpetrator to book?"
