10 ministers sworn in at Bagmati, which ministry to whom?
KATHMANDU: SEPT. 8 – Additional Council of Ministers has been expanded in Bagmati. Chief Minister Astalaxmi Shakya on Wednesday (today) completed the cabinet by appointing four ministers of state including six ministers.
Among the newly appointed ministers are Ajay Kranti Shakya (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law), Rachana Khadka (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning), Bijay Subedi (Ministry of Social Development), Pradeep Kumar Katuwal (Health), Shanti Prasad Poudel (Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment), Chandra Lama (Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives).
Among the newly appointed ministers of state are Junelimaya Shrestha (Ministry of Health), Jeevan Khadka (Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Development), Saraswati Wati (Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment) and Badri Mainali (Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives).
The state government led by Chief Minister Shakya is in a minority with the split of the UML. After this, she made the MP who did not join the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) a minister.
There are currently 43 UML MPs in Bagmati. After the split of the party, 13 lawmakers have identified themselves in favour of the Nepal leadership. Earlier, the UML had a majority in Bagmati. Chief Minister Shakya needs 55 MPs for a majority in the state assembly. As soon as 13 lawmakers left the UML, a majority in the state assembly was in favour of the opposition alliance.
