The newly appointed ministers were sworn in by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala amidst a ceremony at the Singh Durbar Monday.

PM Koirala administered the oath of office and secrecy to four ministers and six state ministers. Deputy speaker and Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Chitra Lekha Yadav, who was appointed as the Water Resources minister, was not present at the swearing in ceremony.

Immediately after the announcement of expansion of the cabinet, Yadav declined the post saying that her party didn’t consult with her while recommending her name for the ministerial post.

CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress vice-president Sushil Koirala, Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana and some MPs were present at the function.

PM Koirala added 11 new faces in his 7-member cabinet earlier today.

Addressing the swearing in ceremony, PM Koirala said the first phase duty had been completed and that government and the parliament now have to fulfill its next duty that of establishing peace and stability in the country.

Saying that the government was informed of the arrival of Maoist talks team led by Krishna Bahadur Mahara, which will hold preliminary talks with the government and the parties, Koirala said the final talks will be with the top-level team headed by Maoist chairman Prachanda.