KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party has finalized the list of lawmakers to join Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government.
Similarly, the party has decided to appoint its Vice President, Dol Prasad Aryal, as the new Speaker.
Shah, who is popularly known as Balen, will lead the government while also holding the Defence portfolio.
Similarly, Economist Dr Swarnim Wagle has been appointed Minister for Finance, while Shishir Khanal will head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sobita Gautam has been given charge of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha will lead the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Sudan Gurung has been appointed Minister for Home Affairs.
Likewise, Pratibha Rawal will oversee the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, while Ganesh Paudel has been assigned the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Amaresh Kumar Singh will head the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, while Sunil Lamsal has been appointed Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Gita Chaudhary will lead the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Bikram Timilsina has been appointed Minister for Communication and Information Technology, while Deepak Sah will take charge of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.
Similarly, Sashmit Pokharel will head the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, while Sita Badi has been appointed Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, and Nisha Mehta as the Minister for Health and Population.
Balen’s new cabinet
- Balendra Shah — Prime Minister / Minister for Defence
- Swarnim Wagle — Minister for Finance
- Shishir Khanal — Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Sobita Gautam — Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
- Biraj Bhakta Shrestha — Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation
- Sudan Gurung — Minister for Home Affairs
- Pratibha Rawal — Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration
- Ganesh Paudel — Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
- Aaresh Kumar Singh — Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies
- Sunil Lamsal — Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport
- Gita Chaudhary — Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives
- Bikram Timilsina — Minister for Communication and Information Technology
- Deepak Sah — Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security
- Sasmita Pokharel — Minister for Education, Science and Technology
- Sita Badi — Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens
- Nisha Mehta — Minister for Health and Population

Himal Press