Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) formed a single-majority government on Friday, under the leadership of its senior leader Balendra Shah.
President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shah and 14 ministers on Friday afternoon. Prime Minister Shah and the ministers have already assumed their respective offices.
Before forming the cabinet, multiple rounds of discussions were held between Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane and Shah, who had resigned as Kathmandu mayor and joined the RSP, a couple of months before the parliamentary elections held on March 5.
The two leaders have nominated seven members each from their camps to the new cabinet.
From Lamichhane’s camp, Dr Swarnim Wagle has been appointed as Minister for Finance; Shishir Khanal as the Minister for Foreign Affairs; Biraj Bhakta Shrestha as Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Pratibha Rawal as Minister for General Administration; Sobita Gautam as Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Nisha Mehta as Minister for Health and Population; and Geeta Chaudhary as Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Similarly, from the Shah’s camps, Sudan Gurung has been appointed Minister for Home Affairs; Sunil Lamsal for Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport; Khadga Raj Poudel as Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Sashmit Pokharel as Minister for Education, Science, and Technology; Dr Bikram Timilsina as Minister for Communications and Information Technology; Dr Dipak Sah as Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security; and Sita Badi as Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens.
Prime Minister Shah has retained the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies under him.
Although Amresh Kumar Singh had been recommended for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, his name was dropped at the last moment.
