KATHMANDU: UCPN-Maoist, a key ally in the coalition government, on Sunday finalised the name list of seven lawmakers to be sent to the Council of Ministers as the party representatives.

Party Secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi would lead the Maoist squad in the KP Sharma Oli-led Cabinet as a Deputy Prime Minister with Energy portfolio, according to the decision made by the Maoist party today.

The party held rounds of internal meeting to choose the ministers. Earlier, it was reported that a decision was made to send General Secretary Krishna Mahara to the government leading the party. The decision, however, was corrected by the party's Standing Committee.

Maoist General Secretary Mahara submitted the name list of ministerial nominees to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today on behalf of the party.

Top Bahadur Rayamajhi: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Energy

Shakti Basnet: Minister for Home Affairs

Umesh Yadav: Minister for Irrigation

Giriraj Mani Pokharel: Minister for Education

Rekha Sharma: Minister for General Administration

Agni Prasad Sapkota: Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation

Ganesh Man Pun: Minister for Commerce and Supplies

Earlier, the party had sent party treasurer Haribol Gajurel as the Agricultural Development Minister in the new government when the Prime Minister formed his cabinet on October 12.

Cabinet expansion

According to Prime Minister Oli's press advisor Pramod Dahal, the Cabinet would be extended today and the new ministers would be sworn-in by President Ram Baran Yadav today itself.

Dahal informed that the CPN-UML nominees, however, would not be inducted in the Cabinet today.

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