Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has started the homework for the formation of a new government.
RSP President Rabi Lamichhane, senior leader Balendra Shah 'Balen', and vice-presidents DP Aryal and Swarnim Wagle discussed the formation of a new cabinet.
RSP General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti told Nepalkhabar, "The leaders discussed the formation of a new government. The new government will be formed on March 27."
According to him, RSP senior leader Balen will take the oath of office as Prime Minister on March 27. General Secretary Burlakoti informed that RSP has already written to the constitutional bodies accordingly.
According to him, preparations are underway to administer the oath to all ministers immediately after Prime Minister's oath. Burlakoti informed that efforts are being made to form an 18-member cabinet under Balen's leadership.
"We are doing our homework on how to reduce the number of ministries. Our election manifesto outlines an 18-member cabinet. We are doing internal homework to organize the government in line with that pledge,” he said.
Currently, there are 22 ministries including Urban Development, Labor, Employment and Social Security, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Forest and Environment, Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Communication and Information Technology, Education, Science and Technology, and Youth and Sports.
General Secretary Burlakoti said that discussions are underway on whether to merge some ministries or give dual responsibilities to ministers when reducing the 22 ministries to 18.
"The number of ministries and the list of ministers have not been finalized. But we are in discussions to reduce it to 18 or less as much as possible. "There is a rough estimate that we will go with 18 ministries", he said.
He said that Balen will be elected as the leader of the parliamentary party based on the political agreement reached on December 23, last year.
On that day, a seven-point agreement was reached between RSP and the Balen group.
Point 4 of the agreement states, "Rabi Lamichhane will remain the central president of RSP, and Balendra Shah will be the leader of the parliamentary party and future prime ministerial candidate after the upcoming House of Representatives elections."
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