PM Dahal forms eight-member cabinet with three deputy PMs

Vows to ensure good governance and improve public service delivery

KATHMANDU, Dec 27: Newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal formed an eight-member cabinet, including three deputy prime ministers on Monday.

The newly-formed cabinet includes Narayan Kaji Shrestha (Maoist Center), Bishnu Poudel (CPN-UML) and Rabi Lamichhane (Rastriya Swatantra Party) as deputy prime ministers. While Shrestha has been entrusted with the ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport, Poudel has been appointed as the finance minister. Similarly, Lamichhane, who is the chairman of the newly-formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been given the home ministry.

Other members of the cabinet include Jwala Kumari Sah, Damodar Bhandari and Rajendra Kumar Rai from the UML and Abdul Khan from the CK Raut-led Janamat Party. Although Raut has claimed that his party was given the ministerial portfolio of industry, commerce and supplies, Prime Minister Dahal, according to his aides, has not allocated any ministerial portfolio to the newly-appointed cabinet ministers.

Earlier on Monday, President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister Dahal amidst a special function organized at Shital Niwas. Shortly after administering the oath to Prime Minister Dahal, President Bhandari in the presence of Prime Minister Dahal administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-appointed deputy prime ministers and the ministers.

President Bhandari on Sunday evening appointed Maoist Center Chairman Dahal as the new prime minister as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal. As per the constitutional provision, Dahal, who has been appointed as the country's executive head for a third time, will have to win a vote of confidence in parliament within the next 30 days.

Prime Minister Dahal and Deputy Prime Ministers Lamichhane, Poudel and Shestha assumed their respective offices on Monday evening itself. Prime Minister Dahal called a cabinet meeting on Monday evening after assuming office as the new prime minister.

Talking to media persons after the first cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Dahal claimed that his government had raised hope among the people as the government comprises the parties that have received clear mandates from the people in the recently-held elections.

“Of course, we have a number of difficulties and challenges before us. But, the trust and hope in us has increased among the people,” he said. “There has been centralization of forces that are committed to do something. I think this concentration has made it easy for me to accomplish the tasks that lie before me.”

Prime Minister Dahal vowed to work toward bailing the country’s economy out of crisis, ensuring good governance and improving public service delivery. He said his government would first focus on addressing the issues of immediate concerns to the people.