Newly appointed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has formed a seven-member cabinet on Tuesday.
The state-run Radio Nepal quoted a statement issued by the press secretariat of the royal palace as saying that His Majesty King Gyanendra has constituted a seven-member council of ministers upon the recommendation of premier Koirala in accordance with the constitution of the kingdom of Nepal, 1990.
Those included in the council of ministers—that has been formed in the aftermath of the people’s movement 2006—include senior CPN (UML) leader, K. P. Sharma Oli, three members from Nepali Congress and one representative each from NC (Democratic) and United Left Front.
Oli will hold the deputy prime minister with foreign affairs portfolio. He had earlier served as the Home Minister.
Similarly, Nepali Congress leaders Mahantha Thakur, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and Krishna Sitaula have been assigned Agriculture, Finance and Home portfolios respectively.
Treasurer of Nepali Congress and former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thakur is considered a Koirala loyalist. Newly appointed Finance Minister Dr. Mahat has held the finance and foreign affairs portfolio in the past. He had also served as vice chairman of the National Planning Commission after the restoration of democracy in 1990.
Appointment of NC spokesman, Krishna Sitaula, to the key post of Home Minister may be the most remarkable appointment in the new cabinet. A trusted lieutenant of Koirala, the soft-spoken Sitaula accompanied the NC leader to New Delhi in November last year and is said to be involved in negotiations between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the CPN (Maoists). Sitaula—who had earlier served as state minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies during coalition governments—is likely to emerge as the most powerful minister in the cabinet as he is said to enjoy full trust of the prime minister.
Reports say a major coalition partner, CPN (UML), is unhappy with the new cabinet as it was claiming for Home portfolio, among others.
One of the senior leaders of Nepali Congress (Democratic), Gopal Man Shrestha, will have to be content with Physical Planning and Works Ministry—that is responsible for the implementation of the much-talked about Melamchi Water Supply project. Shrestha had earlier made claims for the deputy prime minister, according to reports. Shrestha had served as Forest minister, among others.
The new face in the council of ministers is Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari. President of the United Left Front (ULF)—one of the constituents of the SPA—has been assigned the Land Reforms and Management portfolio. Since Chaudhari is not a member of the House of Representatives, he will have to be nominated as member of the National Assembly within six months to retain his cabinet portfolio.
SPA leaders earlier said the size of the cabinet would not exceed 21. Senior leader of Nepali Congress, Ram Chandra Poudel, who was dubbed as a candidate for the deputy prime minister is not included in the cabinet.
Prime Minister Koirala has kept defense and all other portfolios with himself for the time being. Sources say the cabinet will be expanded soon as soon as other SPA members send their names to the premier.
Delay in forming the cabinet by the ailing leader had drawn widespread criticism from the supporters of the SPA as well as civil society leaders. Prime Minister Koirala is expected to administer oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed ministers at Singha Durbar this afternoon.
Earlier, prime minister used to administer oath of office to his cabinet colleagues at the Narayanhiti royal palace in the presence of HM the King.