Cabinet expansion on Wednesday

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali has said that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will appoint additional members to the Cabinet on Wednesday.

However, about the cabinet assuming a full shape, the UML leader said that since the homework is underway to get the Madhes based parties on board, it may take some while before the Cabinet gets a full shape.

There have also been reports of the ruling coalition not making any changes in terms of the current President and Vice President post holders.

Speaking to THT Online, Gyawali said that he assumes that there is a strong possibility of giving continuity to current President and Vice- President for another term in the office. "However, no formal decision has been made on the topic yet," he added.

Gyawali further said that the party will now check and discuss legal aspects concerning the party name since the name that the Party Unification Coordination Committee had proposed and the leaders had signed on -- Nepal Communist Party -- has already been registered at the Election Commission by some other party.

Speaking at a programme held in Kathmandu earlier today, following the unification agreement yesterday, secretary Gyawali had said, "Our taskforce has recommended formation of 15 ministries. Now, some ministries would be integrated while some others would be dissolved."

Strengthening of the democracy, safeguarding national interests, maintaining good governance by ending corruption, spurring investment for prosperity, and implementing the federal constitution would be the new government's priorities, Gyawali said.

On Monday, the ruling coalition partners had signed an agreement on modality of unification of the two parties.