SURKHET: Chief Minister of Karnali Pradesh Mahendra Bahadur Shahi has reformed his cabinet by appointing two new ministers to it.
Province Chief Govinda Prasad Kalauni appointed Sita Kumari Nepali of Surkhet and Gopal Sharma of Rukum West on the recommendation of Chief Minister Shahi on Sunday evening, informed the Office of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.
Nepali has been appointed as the Minister for Internal Affairs, Law and Sports and Sharma as the Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning.
Both of them are from the CPN (Maoist Center).
Chief Minister Shahi had appointed three ministers only on last Wednesday. However, their swearing-in ceremony was halted due to the dissatisfaction of the ruling alliance Nepali Congress.
Maoist Center lawmaker Bindaman Bista, who was earlier picked as the Minister for Internal Affairs, Law and Sports, backtracked after the NC asked for two ministerial portfolios.
“Earlier, the NC had asked for only one ministry. Two ministerial portfolios had to be allocated for the NC due to the factions in the party. Hence, Bista had to backtrack at the direction of the Maoist Center,” said a leader.
Chief Minister Shahi is making preparations to provide the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development and the Ministry of Social Development to the NC. Currently, Shahi himself is looking after these two ministries.
The NC had voted for Chief Minister Shahi during the confidence motion he had floated in the Province Assembly on April 16.
Three lawmakers of the Nepal-Khanal faction of the ruling CPN-UML who crossed the floor to vote for Chief Minister Shahi have already become ministers.
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