KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Sushila Karki is expanding her Cabinet for the fifth time, taking the total number of ministers to 15.
Former Nepali Army Lieutenant General Balananda Sharma is likely to be appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs. According to sources, Sharma will take the oath of office at 2 pm today. With Sharma’s appointment, the Karki-led cabinet will now comprise 15 members.
Current Cabinet line-up:
Sushila Karki: Prime Minister (also in charge of the Ministries of Defence and Drinking Water)
Rameshore Khanal: Finance; Federal Affairs and General Administration
Kulman Ghising: Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; Urban Development
Om Prakash Aryal: Home Ministry
Anil Kumar Sinha: Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
Mahabir Pun: Education, Science and Technology
Madan Pariyar: Agriculture and Livestock Development
Jagadish Kharel: Communication and Information Technology
Dr. Sudha Sharma: Health and Population
Bablu Gupta: Youth and Sports
Kumar Ingham: Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation
Rajendra Singh Bhandari: Labour, Employment and Social Security
Madhav Chaulagain: Forest and Environment
Shraddha Shrestha: Women, Children and Senior Citizens
Balananda Sharma: Foreign Affairs
However, Sharma’s seniority in the Council of Ministers has yet to be determined.
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