Kathmandu, October 18

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli today expanded the Cabinet inducting nine ministers — seven from Unified CPN-Maoist and one each from two fringe parties.

President Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath of office and secrecy to all nine ministers in the presence of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

With the induction of nine ministers, the Oli led Cabinet now has 18 members, including three deputy prime ministers — Kamal Thapa, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi.

UCPN-M Secretary Rayamajhi joined the government leading his party as deputy prime minister and Energy minister today.

Other ministers from the party include Rekha Sharma as minister for General Administration; Giriraj Mani Pokhrel as education minister; Agni Sapkota as minister for forest and soil conservation; Umesh Yadav as irrigation minister; Ganesh Man Pun as minister for commerce and supplies and Shakti Basnet as home minister.

UCPN-M leader Haribol Gajurel was inducted as minister for agriculture development earlier. With today’s induction all eight ministries for UCPN-M has been fulfilled.

However, the leading party in government CPN-UML could not pick more ministers today.

General Secretary of Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic Ram Janam Chaudhary and Chairman of Bahujan Shakti Party Biswendra Paswan also took oath as ministers without portfolio.

UML has already sent Agni Prasad Kharel as minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, Som Prasad Pandey and Satya Narayan Mandal were sworn in as ministers without portfolio.

All the ministers appointed today assumed their respective offices at Singha Durbar.

Adapt to changed context: Basnet

KATHMANDU: Upon assuming office on Sunday, Home Minister Shakti Basnet told civil servants atthe ministry to adapt to the changed context. Basnet clarified that he would not interfere with their activities but would express concern about injustice to the people. He urged them to contribute from their places at a time when the country is facing a difficult situation. He also directed them to come up with their work-plan at the earliest. Basnet said he would also come up with his plan and then develop a new work-plan for the ministry.