KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has expanded the cabinet today (Friday).

Nepali Congress (NC), the major partner in the ruling coalition, has got 8 ministries. However, it has sent only four names since the Shekhar Koirala-led faction demanded at least three ministers,

Likewise, the Maoist Center has 5 ministers, Janata Samajwadi Party and Unified Samajwadi 2 ministries each, and Nagarik Unmukti Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal Samajwadi Party, and Aam Janata Party one ministry each.

NC’s Purna Bahadur Khadka has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat as Finance Minister; Ramesh Rijal as Minister of Industries; and Sita Gurung as the Minister of Urban Development.

Meanwhile, Janata Samajwadi Party’s Ashok Rai has been appointed as the Minister of Science and Technology.

Similarly, the United Socialist Party’s Bedu Ram Bhusal has been appointed as the Minister of Agriculture; and Prakash Jwala as the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

Maoist Center’s Narayan Kaji Shrestha has been appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs, and Shakti Basnet as the Minister of Energy.

Maoist Center’s Rekha Sharma is the Minister of Communications; and Sudan Kiranti is the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Prime Minister Dahal has entrusted Amanlal Modi as the Minister of General Administration.

Loktatrik Samajwadi Party’s Sarat Singh Bhandari has been appointed as the Minister of Labor and Employment.

Similarly, Nagarik Unmukti Party’s Ranjita Shrestha has been appointed as the Minister of Land Management; and Nepal Samajwadi Paryt’s Mahindra Raya Yadav has been appointed as the Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens.