Industry Ministry gets temporary minister

Though, the cabinet gets full shape today, nearly three months after formation of new government, the Industry Ministry gets a temporary minister.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expanded his cabinet, after 88 days from his assumption of the office following the Supreme Court's ruling. Deuba assumed office on July 13 as per a Supreme Court’s order on July 12, which had also ousted KP Sharma Oli as prime minister and restored the House of Representatives, which was dissolved by Oli on May 21.

But Deuba has appointed Gajendra Bahadur Hamal, who is not a parliamentarian, as the minister for Industry and Commerce Ministry. Hamal’s name had courted controversy over allegations that he was picked from the quota of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. Since Hamal is not a member of the Federal Parliament, he can be minister only for six months.

According to the Constitution, any Nepali can become a minister for six months but then one has to be the member of federal parliament -- either lower or upper House -- to continue as the minister. Thus, Hamal can be industry and commerce minister for only six months. The business community has been waiting for a ministry on whom it can trust but the incumbent government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba has appointment a temporary minister, who needs to boost the confidence of the private sector. The private sector has lost its confidence due to prolonged Corona pandemic.

The coalition cabinet, which had previously inducted only four minister, three from the Nepali Congress (NC) and two from the CPN-Maoist Center, has now members from CPN-Unified Socialist and Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal.

The prime minister also reshuffled the portfolios of some ministers in his cabinet. Gyandendra Bahadur Karki has been shifted to Ministry of Communication, Information and Technology from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, whereas state minister for health Umesh Shrestha has been shifted to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

Prime Minister Deuba has appointed 16 new ministers and two state ministers, according to a press note issued by the Office of the President.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expanded the Cabinet according to the recommendation of the prime minister under Article 76 and its sub-article (9) and Article 78 and its sub-article (1), the press note issued by the Office of the President reads.

Nepali Congress (NC)

Ministry of Home Affairs: Bal Krishna Khand

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Narayan Khadka

Ministry of Communication and Information Technology: Gyanendra Bahadur Karki

Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs: Dilendra Badu

Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens: Uma Regmi

Ministry of Defense: Minendra Rijal

Ministry of Water Supply: Umakanta Chaudhary

Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies: Gajendra Hamal

Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP)

Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration: Rajendra Shrestha

Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport: Renu Yadav

Ministry of Forest and Environment: Ramsahay Yadav

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development: Pramod Shah

CPN (Unified Socialist)

Ministry of Health and Population: Birodh Khatiwada

Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Aviation: Ram Kumari Jhankri

Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security: Krishna Kumar Shrestha

Ministry of Urban Development: Prem Ale

Minister of State for Health and Population: Bhawani Prasad Khapung

CPN (Maoist Center)

Ministry of Finance: Janardan Sharma

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology: Devendra Poudel

Ministry of Energy: Pampha Bhusal

Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation: Shashi Shrestha

Ministry of Youth and Sports: Maheshwor Gahatraj