Two Deputy Prime Ministers in new govt, Bishnu Paudel sure to become finance minister

KATHMANDU: The names of the ministers to participate in the new government led by CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli have almost been finalized.

The two major parties in Parliament, the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, have almost finalized the names of the ministers to participate in Oli’s government.

According to the agreement reached at the top level, the new government will have two Deputy Prime Ministers, one from each party.

From the Congress, one person will be the Deputy Prime Minister, and from UML, one person will also be the Deputy Prime Minister.

According to this agreement, it is almost certain that UML Vice-Chair Bishnu Paudel will be the Deputy Prime Minister with the finance portfolio.

The Congress has not yet decided who will be their Deputy Prime Minister, according to party leaders.

“Both parties have almost finalized the names of the ministers to participate in the government.

There will likely be two Deputy Prime Ministers in Oli’s government,” a UML leader said. “Bishnu Poudel will be the Deputy Prime Minister with the finance portfolio from UML. The Congress has yet to finalize their candidate.”

From UML, along with Poudel, Deputy General Secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung, Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai, Bidhya Bhattarai, Deepa Sharma, Tara Lama Tamang, Julie Mahato, among others, are being discussed as potential ministers.

However, it is said that the party is not aware of whom Chairman Oli will choose as ministers.

Although Oli has offered UML MP Bidhya Bhattarai a ministerial position, she has reportedly declined due to family reasons. The responsibility of selecting ministers from UML has been given to Chair Oli.

While it is said that Oli has the list of potential ministers from UML in his pocket, the names of the ministers from the Congress are yet to be finalized.

The Congress has set a criterion of selecting ministers based on merit and contribution. Accordingly, President Deuba is working on selecting ministers.

With the support of the Congress, Oli, who has put forward his claim for the Prime Minister, could possibly be appointed as Prime Minister today.

After the appointment of the Prime Minister, the names of the ministers participating in the government from both parties will be made public, leaders say.