KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today expanded the cabinet for the sixth time since he assumed office on May 23. With nine more ministers — two

cabinet ministers, six state ministers and one assistant minister — inducted in the already

jumbo cabinet its strength has gone up to 42.

The PM administered the oath of office and secrecy to Laxman Lal Karna, Minister Without Portfolio, and Sarbadev Prasad Ojha, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, in the presence of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the latter’s office in Shital Niwas. The PM administered the oath of office and secrecy to six state ministers and one assistant minister at his office in Singha Durbar.

However, none of the cabinet ministers representing the Nepali Congress turned up during the oath-taking function at the Rastrapati Bhavan. Dr Minendra Rijal, Minister for Constituent Assembly, Federal Affairs, Parliamentary System and Culture, said they could not attend the function, as they had to take part in the party’s central working committee meeting. The new ministers were sworn in after a regular cabinet meeting.

Asked whether it was possible to form a national unity government led by the main opposition party, UCPN-Maoist, the PM said, “They are daydreaming.” He didn’t rule out another expansion if the UCPN-Maoist chose to join the government.

Meanwhile, today’s cabinet meeting recommended the names of four bureaucrats of the foreign ministry as envoys to UN, Brazil, South Africa and Qatar. Foreign Secretary Gyanchandra Acharya, Pradyumna Bikram Shah, Arun Dhital and Madhuvan Poudel have been recommended as envoys to UN, Brazil, South Africa and Qatar, respectively. The Parliamentary Hearing Committee’s approval is a must before their appointment to the posts. Home Minister Bhim Rawal said the government approved a policy to appoint retired bureaucrats as envoys as far as possible.

The cabinet also renewed the two-year term for Digambar Jha, Managing Director, Nepal Oil Corporation. Rajendra Prasad Mahato, Minister of Commerce and Supplies, had recommended Jha’s extension.

New additions

• Laxman Lal Karna of

Sadbhavana Party, Minister Without Portfolio

• Sarbadev Prasad Ojha of

MJF-D, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare

• Indra Prasad Dhungel of RJP, State Minister, Environment, Science and Technology

• Sanjay K Sah of MJF-D, State Minister, Physical Planning and Works

• Ram Bachan Ahir Yadav of MJF-D, State Minister, Women, Children and Social Welfare

• Karima Begum of MJF-D, State Minister, Agriculture and Cooperatives

• Shatrughna Singh Koiri of MJF-D, State Minister, Tourism

• Saroj K Yadav of SP, State

Minister, Commerce and

Supplies

• Kalawoti Devi Dusandh of MJF-D, Assistant Minister, Physical Planning and Works