Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today appointed leader of People’s Front Nepal (PFN), Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, as Minister for Health and Population.

Pokhrel was appointed Health Minister as per the article 38 of Interim Constitution of Nepal.

He is scheduled to take oath of office and secrecy this afternoon.

The PFN had recommended the names of party vice-chairman Pokhrel and central member Shashi Shrestha for the posts of Minister for Health and Population and state minister for the same portfolio, respectively, in the interim government.

The PFN, which suffered two vertical splits in recent past, has four representatives in the Interim Parliament.

Earlier, the PFN had ‘refused’ to name its sole candidate for the new government, questioning the division of portfolios.