Himal Press 
POKHARA: Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey is set to expand his cabinet for the second time on Friday.
Pandey included Saraswati Aryal Tiwari of the Nepali Congress and Sushila Simkhada of CPN (Maoist Center) in his cabinet when he was sworn in on May 27. He intends to induct four more ministers into his cabinet later on Friday.
Nepali Congress (NC) is sending Mahendradhoj GC from Nawalpur and Dipendra Bahadur Thapa from Baglung to join the provincial cabinet. Likewise, the Maoist Center has sent the name of Resham Bahadur Jugjali
Pandey, who is the parliamentary leader of the Nepali Congress in the provincial assembly, is leading a coalition government which also includes the Maoist Center, and CPN (Unified Socialist). According to the agreement with the coalition partners, the Nepali Congress, Maoist Center, and Unified Socialist will receive four, two, and one ministerial portfolios respectively.
Deepak Manange is the sole member of the Unified Socialist in the provincial assembly. However, he is unlikely to be appointed to Pandey’s cabinet.
The Gandaki Province Government consists of seven ministries, which are as follows: the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers; the Ministry of Economic Affairs; the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment; the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Drinking Water; the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Management; the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management; and the Ministry of Social Development and Health.
