Fourth Cabinet Expansion Inducts Four Ministers

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to four new ministers in the Sushila Karki-led interim government on Friday, December 12. 

Prime Minister Karki had recommended Shraddha Shrestha, Madhav Chaulagain, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, and Kumar Ingnam for the ministries of Women, Children and Senior Citizens; Forests and Environment; Labour, Employment and Social Security; and Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, respectively.

Shrestha is a former senior manager at the Nepal Tourism Board. Chaulagain is a public health expert. Bhandari is a former AIG of Nepal Police. Ingnam is an advocate with an academic background.

This is the fourth expansion of the Karki Cabinet. Karki, 73, became Interim Prime Minister on September 12 after the KP Sharma Oli government collapsed on September 9. The collapse followed nationwide youth-led anti-corruption protests and public anger over the social media ban.

On September 15, former Finance Secretary Rameshore Khanal, Nepal Electricity Authority chief Kulman Ghising, and advocate Om Prakash Aryal were sworn in as ministers for Finance; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and Home Affairs. Ghising also oversees Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Urban Development.

A week later, on September 22, four more ministers were appointed. Anil Kumar Sinha was assigned to the Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; and Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. Mahabir Pun became Minister for Education, Science and Technology. Madan Prasad Pariyar took charge of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Jagdish Kharel was appointed Minister for Communication and Information Technology.

On October 26, Dr Sudha Sharma Gautam was appointed Minister for Health and Population. Bablu Gupta became Minister for Youth and Sports.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal attended Friday’s ceremony.