Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has expanded the Cabinet for the fifth time. Seven new ministers, six from the UCPN (Maoist) and one from Sadbhawana (A) have been inducted to the cabinet. Bhattarai administered them the oath of office and secrecy Tuesday morning at the office of the president, Shital Niwas.
Bhattarai picked six ministers from among those close to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and himself as the Baidya camp refused to send the names of candidates for the post. The hardliners have been opposing the four-point agreement that placed Bhattarai to the post of prime minister. They have been also opposed the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA) with India, handover of the keys and the latest seven-point agreement on the peace process.
With the fifth expansion, the number of ministers in the cabinet has reached 46. However, the post of defence minister is still vacant as the MJF (D) is yet to name its candidate.
New ministers
Dinanath Sharma (UCPN-M), Minister for Education
Lokendra Bista Magar (UCPN-M): Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation
Satya Pahadi (UCPN-M): Minister for Peace and Reconstruction
Kalpana Dhamala (UCPN-M), Minister for Science and Technology
Bhim Prasad Gautam (UCPN-M): Minister for Land Reforms
Ram Kumar Yadav (UCPN-M): Minister for General Administration
Sarita Giri (Sadbhawana Party, Anandi Devi), Minister for Labour and Transport Management
State ministers: all from UCPN (Maoist)
Ram Bachchan Yadav: Defence
Saroj Kumar Yadav: Health
Dilip Maharjan: Tourism
Bishnu Chaudhari: Commerce and Supplies
Surya Man Dong: Energy
Leela Bhandari: Education
Gopi Achhami: Youth and Sports
Ghanashyam Yadav: Local Development
Jwala Sah: Land Reforms
Shushma Sharma: Federal Affairs
Hari Khewa Limbu: Finance
Sunita Kumari Mahato: General Administration
Bhimraj Chaudhari Rajbansi: Home
Laxman Mehta: Forest
Durga Devi Mahato Dhanuk: Environment
Kansi Devi Jha: Law and Justice
Ishwar Dayal Mishra: Physical Planning and Works
Arabinda Sah: Women and Children
Ramani Ram: Irrigation