Cabinet expansion likely on Tuesday

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is expanding his cabinet on Tuesday, eight days after passing the floor test for the second time.

Haribol Gajurel, chief political adviser to Prime Minister Dahal, said the Prime Minister has already held a discussion on cabinet expansion with all coalition partners.

“The Prime Minister has already held talks with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. The cabinet will be expanded by this evening or Tuesday,” Gajurel said. “The new ministers will be sworn in Tuesday.”

Eleven parties represented in the House of Representatives gave their vote of confidence to PM Dahal. Most of these parties are preparing to join the government. All of them are staking claims for influential ministries.

Maoist Center currently has four ministers and one minister of state in the cabinet. CPN (Unified Socialist) and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) are making claims for three ministries each. Nagarik Unmukti Party has said that it should be given two ministries. Other fringe parties are also looking to get attractive portfolios.

The parties, however, have not decided who they will send in the cabinet.

PM Dahal, NC President Deuba, and Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal held a meeting on cabinet expansion earlier on Monday.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the top-most leaders of the 11-party coalition is convening later on Monday.