President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), chairperson of Communist Party Nepal (Maoist Centre) as the new Prime Minister heading a coalition government.
Along with Dahal 8-member ministry council that includes three deputy PMs came into existence today.
The president Bhandari also administered the oath to other 7 ministers at a special ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas, a day after she appointed Prachanda as PM who was supported as the joint candidate by six pol parties and independents together mustering 169 members in a house of 275 members.
The cabinet formed under article 176 (2) of the constitution will have to secure vote of confidence within a month.
The cabinet that cannot exceed 25 members will be expanded after the constituent parties decide on their representation in the cabinet and the portfolios is agreed upon.
Of the 7 ministers appointed today, they are Rabi Lamichhane from RSP (deputy PM and Minister of Home Affairs), Bishnu Prasad Poudel from CPN-UML (deputy PM and Minister of Finance) and Narayan Kaji Shrestha from CPN-Maoist Center (deputy PM and Minister of Infrastructure Development). Similarly, three other ministers Jawala Kumari Shah, Damodar Bhandari and Rajendra Kumar Rai from CPN-UML and a minister Abdhul Khan from Janamat Party who were sworn-in today are yet to be assigned the portfolio.