PM expands cabinet

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has expanded the cabinet today.

The new cabinet comprises 8 ministers from the CPN-UML, 5 ministers from the CPN-Maoist Center, 4 ministers from the Rastriya Swatantra Party and 2 from the CPN-Unified Socialist party.

From the CPN UML, Raghubir Mahaseth is designated as Deputy Prime Minister and Physical Infrastructure Minister; Padam Giri as Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Hari Upreti as Defense Minister; Bhagawati Chaudhary as Women and Children Minster; Rajendera Rai as Drinking Water Minister; Damodar Bahadari as Industry Minister; Jwala Kumari Shah as Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister and Balaram Adhikari as Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Minister.

Similarly, from the CPN-Maoist Centre, Narayan Kaji Shrestha has been chosen as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister; Barsha Man Pun as Finance Minister; Shakti Basnet as Energy Minister; Rekha Sharma as Communication and Information Technology Minister; and Hit Bahadur Tamang as Tourism Minister.

From the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rabi Lamichhane is designated as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister; DP Aryal as Labour Minister; and Sumana Shrestha as Education Minister.

Likewise, from the Unified Socialist Party, Bhanu Bhakta Joshi has taken the portfolio of the Federal Affairs and General Administration Ministry and Dhan Bahadur Buda has taken the responsibility of the Urban Development Ministry.