Today’s cabinet meeting failed to finalise the new list of ambassadorial nominees with the Maoist side wanting to completely revise the earlier list.

According to minister for Industries, Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato, today’s cabinet meeting did discuss the nomination of 14 ambassadors, but there was no consensus on the issue. He said the Maoist ministers expressed strong objection to the earlier list, which could not get through parliamentary hearing last week and was later sent back to the cabinet.

Mahato hinted that his party, Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), was also not happy with the nominations made by the earlier seven-party government.

Next cabinet meeting is expected to finalise the ambassadorial nominations. The Maoist party, which has demanded its share in ‘A’ category nations like India, United States, Russia and China, is yet to name its candidates.

Sources say the seven parties have set aside Australia, France, South Korea and Denmark for the Maoists, but the latter have demanded at least one ‘A’ category nation.

Following the Maoist objection, the Parliamentary Special Hearing Committee had on Thursday denied hearing on the nominations and asked the government to come up with a new list by July 04.

14 Nepali diplomatic missions abroad remain without ambassadors for over a year now.