KATHMANDU: Influential ministers of the Council of Ministers remained absent during an address to the nation by  Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the occasion of Nepali New Year 2076, a report in Nagarik daily said.

Despite ruling by Prime Minister Oli that all the cabinet ministers be present in Baluwatar by 6 am on Sunday, none of those from Pushpa Kamal Dahal camp turned up.

Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Energy Minister Barsha Man Pun, Forest Minister Shakti Basnet, Industry Minister Matrika Yadav, Minister for Agriculture Chandra Prakash Khanal and Minister for  Water Supply Bina Magar remained absent during the prime minister’s address to the  nation.