Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is expected to expand the Cabinet for the fifth time on Tuesday before he heads to Maldives to attend the SAARC summit.
PM Bhattarai is likely to appoint six ministers from Maoists, one from Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) and one representing the smaller parties. Those in run from the Maoists are Maoist Spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma as Education Minister, Lokendra Bista as Tourism Minister, Bhim Prasad Gautam as Minster for Land Reforms and Management, Satya Pahadi as Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, Kalpana Dhamala as Minister for Science and Technology and Ram Kumar Yadav as Minister for Local Administration. The other two ministers have not been announced yet.
The government had not been expanded to its full size as the hardliners faction from the Maoists, led by party Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya, had decided to stay out of the government, protesting against the four-point agreement that led to the election of Bhattarai as the prime minister. The faction has also been against the handover of keys, BIPPA and the recent seven-point agreement among the top political parties. However, four Maoist leaders from the faction will be appointed as ministers.