Prime Minister Deuba gives full shape to his Cabinet after almost three months

KATHMANDU: The government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has got full shape after 88 days under his leadership.

On Friday, President Bidyadevi Bhandari formed the Council of Ministers under the leadership of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on the recommendation of the Prime Minister as per Article 76, Clause 9 and Article 78, Clause 1 of the constitution of Nepal.

Five ministers have been appointed from the Nepali Congress, three from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), four ministers each from the CPN (Unified Socialist) and the Janata Samajbadi Party. The CPN (Unified Socialist) and CPN (Maoist Centre) have also got one each state minister.

The new appointees from Congress are Minendra Rijal (Defence), Dilendra Prasad Badu (Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs), Uma Kanta Chaudhari (Water Supply); Uma Regmi (Women, Children and Senior Citizens) and Gajendra Hamal (Industry, Commerce and Supplies).

Badu will replace Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, who is also the government’s spokesperson. Karki has been shifted to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

Hamal’s name had courted controversy over allegations that he was picked from the quota of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. Since Hamal is not a member of the Federal Parliament, he can be minister only for six months.

Similarly, Devendra Poudel, Shashi Shrestha and Maheshwor Gahatraj have been appointed ministers for Education, Science and Technology; Land Reforms, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Sports respectively, from the Maoist Centre. Bodh Maya Kumari Yadav has been appointed as state minister for Education, Science and Technology.

The CPN (Unified Socialist)’s Birodh Khatiwada, Ram Kumari Jhakri, Krishna Kumar Shrestha and Prem Ale have been appointed ministers for Health and Population; Urban Development; Labour, Employment and Social Security and Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Bhawani Khapung has been appointed as state minister for Health and Population.

Rajendra Shrestha, Renu Yadav, Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav and Mahendra Raya Yadav have been given the ministries of Federal Affairs and Local Development; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; Forest and Environment and Agriculture and Livestocks Development from the Janata Samajbadi Party.