As many as 27 days after its formation, the coalition government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday made public its Common Minimum Program (CMP) and procedure prepared by the ruling alliance taskforce.
NC President and Prime Minister Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal Chairman Up-endra Yadav and Rastriya Janamorcha Chair Chitra Bahadur KC jointly unveiled the CMP.
The taskforce, led by Nepali Congress general secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka, was comprised of Nepali Congress leaders Dr Minendra Rijal and Ramesh Lekhak, Maoist Centre leaders Dev Gurung and Barshaman Pun, JSP-N leaders Rajendra Shrestha and Mahendra Ray Yadav.
“Keeping in mind the end of regressive tendency to run the state through totalitarian, undemocratic and dictatorial ways by unconstitutionally dissolving the House of Representatives, and upholding the sentiments of the struggle launched to safeguard Nepal’s federal democratic republic status, constitution and parliament, we, Nepali Congress, Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal and other parties supporting the coalition government have agreed on the following CMP in order to develop the culture of coalition, dialogue, consensus,” said Khadka as he read out the CMP in front of the alliance leaders.
The government prioritized 11 areas in the CMP — battling against COVID-19; instilling Constitutional supremacy, rule of law and good governance; giving a logical end to the peace process; and taking initiative to amend the constitution by forging consensus among political parties.
As per the CPM, the government has pledged to investigate the alleged irregularities in the procurement of health equipment last year and prosecute the guilty, vaccinate one-third of the country’s population by mid- October and all citizens by mid-April, bring special relief packages for the poor, working-class, industries, businesses, and media hit hard by the pandemic and for those affected by floods and landslides.
The government has also pledged to resolve border issues with India, including that of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani, through diplomatic channels.
Similarly, , among other things, the CMP states that cases filed against people during Madhes agitation shall be reviewed and people jailed in an unjust manner shall be released.
