By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 3: Leaders of the ruling coalition Monday discussed the cabinet expansion as well as the points of the minimum common programme prepared by the task force.
According to the Prime Minister’s private secretariat, Prime Minister and president of the Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba, chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Chairman of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N) Upendra Yadav discussed about the minimum common programme, running of the government and current political issues at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
Previously, the top leaders had hinted at the possibility of a Cabinet expansion on Monday. However, now, the expansion looks likely only after the task force formed under Nepali Congress General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka finishes drafting its report. The report will include matters relating to the running of the government, minister selection process, code of conduct and the minimum common programme.
Meanwhile, the task force held a meeting under the chairmanship of its coordinator Purna Bahadur Khadka at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar also on Monday.
In the meeting, the members of the task force began discussion on the minimum programmes of the government, procedure to run the government and code of conduct.
The meeting mainly focused on the common minimum programmes of the government,  informed NC leader and task force member Ramesh Lekhak.
By Monday evening, the taskforce members prepared a draft of their report on the common programmes of the government, and they will sit for another meeting Tuesday morning, it was learnt. The task force has two members each from Nepali Congress, Maoist Centre and JSP-N.
According to Keshav Raj Subedi, a member of the task force, the task force has prepared common programmes regarding the selection of ministers and appointments in the constitutional bodies as well as political appointments.
However, it was said that the task force would need more time to give a final shape to their report and make it public. Task-force member and Maoist Centre leader Dev Gurung said the draft was under discussion.
He said the Cabinet would be expanded after the Madhav Nepal faction of the CPN-UML and JSP clear their stance.