BIRATNAGAR: Chief Minister of Province No. 1 Rajendra Rai is expanding the cabinet today.

The province-1 government has already increased the number of ministries to 13 from seven.

The ruling parties are preparing to appoint ministers in these ministries today.

According to sources, Nepali Congress will get five more ministries, Unified Socialist four, including the Chief Minister; three from the CPN-Maoist Center, one from the Janata Samajbadi Party, and one from the Federal Democratic Forum.

Omprakash Sarawagi of Jhapa, Pratap Prakash Hangam of Taplejung and Shekhar Chandra Thapa of Morang are likely to be ministers from Nepali Congress.

Similarly, Rajan Rai of Khotang, Khinulangwa Limbu of Ilam and Upendra Prasad Ghimire of Morang are also likely to become ministers from the Unified Socialist.

The CPN-Maoist is planning to send Ram Kumar Rai of Khotang and Jhalak Bahadur Magar of Jhapa to the cabinet.

The source added that the oath-taking ceremony will take place today itself.