KATHMANDU, Sept 19: The Election Commission (EC) has urged the government to correct the decision to expand the cabinet without any delay saying that such a move has compromised the established norms of free and fair elections. 

Issuing a press statement on Tuesday the election body said Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's recent moves to expand cabinet were against the election code of conduct. Prime Minister Deuba had expanded his cabinet twice even after the election body enforced the election code of conduct in view of the upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections slated for November and December. 

“Since the cabinet expansion done at a time when the election code of conduct is in effect undermines the fairness, credibility and impartiality of the election and the principles of separation of power among constitutional bodies and affects the election code of conduct, EC urges the government to correct the decision,” the EC said in the press statement. 
On September 11, the prime minister had expanded the cabinet making it 54-strong, the largest ever in Nepal's history. 

Again on Monday, Prime Minister Deuba inducted two more state ministers taking the total number of ministers to 56. 

Before Monday's expansion the election body had drawn the attention of the government saying that the decision was against the election code of conduct. 

 
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