KATHMANDU: A meeting of the top leaders of the ruling coalition has agreed to expand the cabinet at the earliest, probably this week.

The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar Tuesday decided to expedite the process at a time when PM Deuba has been criticized for failing to expand give the cabinet a full shape.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav attended the meeting.

The leaders discussed allocating the ministerial portfolio, a Baluwatar source said.

“The top leaders discussed finalizing the names of the ministers and the ministries within a day or two,” the source added.

So far, PM Deuba is leading the government with three ministers and one minister of state.