Leaders working to make final decision on cabinet expansion

KATHMANDU: AUGUST 30 – Top leaders of the ruling coalition have joined hands to make a final decision on the expansion of the cabinet.

Along with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Chairman of the ruling coalition Maoist Center Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Chairman of the Unified Socialists Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of the JSP Upendra Yadav, Chairman of the JSP Federal Council Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Leader of the National Assembly of the Unified Socialists Dr Veduram Bhusal discussions are underway between the leaders at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba also held joint discussions with Prachanda and Nepal on the expansion of the Council of Ministers. As agreed in the meeting, the Council of Ministers will be expanded by this evening. Congress leader Min Bahadur Bishwakarma told Makalu Khabar, “The cabinet will be completed by this evening.”

Deuba, who was appointed the prime minister on July 12, is preparing to expand the cabinet by including the CPN-Unified Socialists and JSP in the government. Accordingly, Deuba has not yet expanded the cabinet. Deuba, who has been waiting for Nepal’s unified socialists in particular, now intends to expand the cabinet soon.

At present, the Congress has only Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand and Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki on behalf of the Congress and Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and Energy Minister Pampha Bhusal on behalf of the Maoists. Umesh Shrestha is the Minister of State for Health on behalf of the Nepali Congress.

According to a source, the UCPN (Maoist) will have six ministries including one Minister of State in the expanded cabinet today. The ruling Congress and the UCPN (M) will now get four-fourths of the ministry.