Nepal PM Sushila Karki expands cabinet, swears in 4 new ministers
text_fields
Kathmandu: Four newly-appointed ministers in Nepal took the oath of office and secrecy on Monday at a ceremony held at the Presidential Office, Sheetal Niwas.
President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath to former Justice Anil Kumar Sinha, National Innovation Centre founder Mahabir Pun, journalist Jagdish Kharel and governance expert Madan Pariyar.
With their inclusion, the strength of the Council of Ministers led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki has increased to eight. The Prime Minister has retained several key portfolios herself.
According to the new appointments, Sinha will serve as Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Kharel as Minister for Communication and Information Technology; Pariyar as Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development; and Pun as Minister for Education and Science and Technology.
The President’s Office had announced on Sunday that five ministers would be sworn in on Monday. However, Sangita Kaushal Mishra was dropped from the list owing to her controversial background. Sources said the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Nepal’s anti-graft agency, is probing a corruption case against Mishra.
Karki, 73, became Prime Minister on September 12, ending days of political uncertainty following the ouster of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli after youth-led Gen Z protests over corruption and a ban on social media.
Soon after assuming office, Karki appointed Kulma Ghising as Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Physical Planning; Rameshwor Khanal as Minister for Finance; and Om Prakash Aryal as Home Minister.
The interim government is expected to function until the next general election scheduled for March 5.
With PTI inputs