Key Takeaways:
- Bhatt appointed four ministers from UML list after taking oath Friday
- Cabinet still missing portfolios for infrastructure, industry, tourism, forests, internal affairs
- Delay stems from competing claims among NCP factions (ex-Maoist Centre, Nagarik Unmukti, Unified Socialist)
- First Council of Ministers meeting decided to expand dialysis services at provincial hospitals
Newly appointed Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Khag Raj Bhatt is facing a difficult task completing his Cabinet, with competing claims within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) delaying the appointment of his party's ministers.
Bhatt appointed four ministers and state ministers on Friday after taking the oath of office, but the provincial government remains incomplete as the NCP has yet to finalise its nominees.
Based on a list provided by CPN-UML parliamentary party leader Rajendra Singh Rawal, Bhatt appointed UML deputy leader Santosh Sharma Thapa as social development minister, Chakra Bahadur Malla as minister for economic affairs, Daman Bahadur Bhandari as minister for land management, agriculture and cooperatives, and Janaki Air Bam as minister of state for economic affairs. All four took their oath and assumed office on Friday.
The Cabinet still needs ministers for physical infrastructure development, industry, tourism, forests and environment, and internal affairs.
According to provincial sources, the delay has been caused by the large number of aspirants within the NCP, particularly lawmakers who joined the party from the former CPN (Maoist Centre), Nagarik Unmukti Party and CPN (Unified Socialist).
Discussions are reportedly under way to accommodate the former Nagarik Unmukti Party faction with one ministry along with a minister of state, the former Maoist Centre faction with one ministry and a minister of state, and the Unified Socialist faction with one ministry.
The Cabinet expansion was held alongside the first meeting of the provincial Council of Ministers, which decided to expand dialysis services at provincial hospitals.
The unresolved distribution of portfolios has emerged as the immediate challenge for Bhatt as he seeks to give his coalition government a full shape.