 "Former Nepali Chief Justice Sushila Karki Image courtesy: Moneycontrol")
Nepal Prime Minister Sushila Karki expanded her interim cabinet to nine members on Sunday by inducting five new ministers.
On Karki’s recommendation, President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Anil Kumar Sinha, Mahavir Pun, Sangita Kaushal Mishra, Jagadish Kharel and Madan Pariyar as ministers, officials at the President’s Office said.
The newly appointed ministers will take oath at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday.
According to sources, Sinha will head the Industry and Commerce Ministry, Pun will take charge of Education, Science and Technology, Mishra will oversee Health and Population, Kharel will handle Information and Communication, while Pariyar will lead the Agriculture Ministry.
With these appointments, the interim cabinet now comprises nine members, including Prime Minister Karki, who continues to retain several key portfolios.
Karki, 73, became prime minister on September 12, ending days of political uncertainty after the ouster of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli following youth-led Gen Z protests against his government over corruption and a ban on social media.
Soon after taking charge, Karki had appointed Kulma Ghising as Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Physical Planning; Rameshwor Khanal as Minister for Finance, and Om Prakash Aryal as the Home Minister.
The interim government will run the interim government till the next general election scheduled to be held on March 5.
With inputs from agencies