These are 9 faces from CPN-UML eyeing Ministerial posts

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML has announced its list of ministerial candidates for the upcoming government, with a focus on including members who may have felt marginalized in previous alliances. Notably, Raghubir Mahaseth and Balaram Adhikari have been named as new additions to the list.

According to party insiders, UML is set to send 9 individuals, including a state minister, led by Secretary Raghubir Mahaseth.

Raghubir is slated to head the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, while other ministerial assignments are yet to be finalized.

Returning to government roles under UML’s banner are Rajendra Rai, Jwalakumari Shah, Damodar Bhandari, and Bhagwati Chaudhary. Balaram Adhikari, elected from Kapilvastu 1, is poised to replace Bimala Rai Poudyal. Notably, Raghubir Mahaseth was absent from Prachanda’s team last year.

Earlier, when Prachanda was made the Prime Minister on Poush 10 (Dec 26), UML had 8 ministries.

At that time, UML sent to the government under the leadership of Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel. Paudel took the responsibility of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Jwalakumari Shah was assigned to Agriculture and Livestock Development, Damodar Bhandari to Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Rajendrakumar Rai to Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, Vimala Rai Poudyal to Foreign Affairs, Padam Giri to Health and Population, Bhagwati Chaudhary to Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, and Hariprasad Upreti as Defense Minister.

However, Prime Minister Prachanda left the government within two months when he left the UML-led coalition and turned to the Congress when he reached the presidential election. Now, after succeeding in reviving the same alliance, the source said that priority was given to those who were betrayed by Prachanda at that time.

At that time, Vice Chair Paudel, who went to the government with the responsibility of finance minister, has not shown his desire to join the government now.

Padam Giri, who was the health minister at that time, has now taken oath as a non-departmental minister in the government.