Maoist ministers absent from Cabinet meeting

KATHMANDU: Ministers representing the CPN Maoist Centre stayed absent from the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, reportedly owing to their party's politburo meeting.

Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai told the Rastriya Samachar Samiti that the Cabinet meeting could not hold deliberations on significant issues as the Maoist ministers were absent.

CPN Maoist Centre is the second largest political force in the incumbent government.

Meanwhile, the government today decided to appoint Dr Gunaraj Lohani as Executive Director of the Social Health Security Development Committee (SHSDC) under the Ministry of Health.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers today decided to appoint Lohani temporarily until the post would be filled through an open competition, said the Rai.

The meeting also discussed extension of the tenures of some officials of the Nepal Army.