KATHMANDU, June 4: The Mahantha Thakur-led faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) is joining the government today.

According to JSP leaders close to Thakur, Prime Minister KP Oli has agreed to appoint eight JSP leaders as ministers and two others as ministers of state. A ceremony to administer the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-appointed ministers is scheduled to take place at 6PM today. 

According to JSP leader Keshav Jha, Rajendra Mahato, Sharat Singh Bhandari, Anil Kumar Jha, Laxman Lal Karna, Chanda Chaudhary, Ekwal Miya, Bimal Shreevastav, Uma Shanker Argariya, Renuka Gurung and Chandra Kanta Chaudhary are among those recommended by the JSP for the appointment of ministers.  

As per the understanding reached between Oli and Thakur, Mahato will be appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister, Bhandari as Minister for Energy, Anil Jha as Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation and Laxman Lal Karna as Minister for Land Management and Cooperatives. 

Similarly, Bimal Shreevastav is being appointed as Minister for Labor and Employment, Uma Shanker Agariya as Minister for Forest and Environment, Chanda Chaudhary as minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens and  Ekwal Miya as Minister for Youths and Sports in the Oli-led cabinet. Chandra Kanta Chaudhary and  Renuka Gurung are being appointed as Minister of State for Energy and Minister of State for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, respectively. 

According to JSP leader Jha, the oath-taking ceremony is scheduled at the Office of President at 6 pm today.

Earlier, the Thakur-led faction of the JSP had decided to abstain from the voting during a crucial vote of confidence in parliament, while the Upendra Yadav-led faction of the JSP decided to vote against Oli. The party has already reached the verge of split after Thakur and Yadav expelled each other from the party.

 
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