Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is expanding the cabinet today.
Although there is an agreement among the parties of the ruling coalition about number of ministries, it has not yet been decided who will take the leadership of the ministries.
According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the Prime Minister has asked to send the final list of new ministers represented by their respective parties by 1 pm on Friday.
Prime Minister Prachanda is preparing to take the names from the parties by 1 o'clock and take oath at 3 pm in the afternoon.
According to the earlier agreement, Nepali Congress 8, CPN (Maoist Center) 5, CPN Unified Socialist Party and Janata Samajwadi Party will get two ministries each. Similarly, Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janamat Party and Nepal Samajwadi Party will get 1/1 ministry each.
Similarly, Prabhu Shah, who formed the Aam Janata Party after leaving the UML prior to the November elections and winning as an independent, is also becoming a minister.
Names and Portfolios
Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives among the power partner parties, is participating in the government with 8 ministries. Congress has already decided to participate in the government under the leadership of Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka.
Khadka is expected to be assigned with the portfolio of Defense along with the Deputy Prime Minister position.
Similarly, the portfolio of Finance is to be given to Dr. Prakasharan Mahat.
Congress leaders will lead the ministries of foreign affairs, health, land, urban development, and general administration. Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has already discussed with the Prime Minister about taking over the ministries.
Another Congress Vice President Dhanraj Gurung, Central Member NP Saud, Sita Gurung, Dig Bahadur Limbu, Mohan Bahadur Basnet and others are on the list of the chosen ministers. President Deuba will take a decision today itself and submit the list to the Prime Minister about who will be given which ministry.
According to the sources, central member NP Saud will get Urban Development, Vice-president Dhanraj Gurung- Federal Affairs and General Administration, central member Mohan Basnet will get Health, Dig Bahadur Limbu Law, Sita Gurung will get the ministry of Land Management.
Likewise, the second largest party of the power coalition, Maoist Center has five ministries.
Along with the prime minister, the ministries of Home Affairs, Energy, Communication, Tourism and Women and Children will be led by Maoist Center.
The ministry of Maoist Center Deputy Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is handling the responsibilities of the Ministry of Physical, Infrastructure and Transport, will be reshuffled.
Sources have claimed to Nepalkhabar that he is about to be given the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Rekha Sharma is now the Minister of Communications from Maoist Center and Sudan Kiranti is the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, which is being handled by the Maoist Center, will be taken over by the Congress.
Prime Minister Prachanda is ready to give another ministry to General Administration Minister Amanlal Modi.
Similarly, the Unified Socialist Party will take over the Ministry of Education and Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Beduram Bhusal, the vice chair of the Unified Samajwadi will get the Education portfolio, and Prakash Jwala,the deputy general secretary, will become the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
The two ministries to be taken by Janata Samajbady Party are yet to be decided. JSP has given the task of finalizing the name of the ministers to Chair Upendra Yadav.
Likewise, the Lokatantrik Socialist Party LSP will take over the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.
Senior leader from LSP Sharatsingh Bhandari is preparing to be Labor Minister. Dr. Mahindra Rai Yadav will become a minister from Baburam Bhattarai-led Nepal Samajbady Party NSP.
The ministry to be given to him is also yet to be finalized.
Nagarik Unmukti Chair Ranjita Shrestha is also becoming a minister.
Similarly, Prabhu Shah, who started the Aamjanata Party after leaving the UML before the November elections and winning as an independent, is also becoming a minister. His portfolio is also yet to be finalized.
