Dahal submits name-list of minister nominees to PM

KATHMANDU, July 25: UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal met Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal at the latter’s official residence in Baluwater, on Monday morning and presented him the name-list of new ministers from the party.



A day earlier, the party’s Central Committee meeting had nominated 24 new ministers including 12 state ministers from the party, with its Vice-Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha leading the Maoist contingent in the cabinet. [break]



During the meeting, PM Khanal is said to have expressed his displeasure over the Maoist party sending a new team to the government especially when political parties including the major opposition, Nepali Congress (NC), have been pressing for the PM’s resignation as per the five-point deal.



According to the PM’s press advisor Surya Thapa, Maoist Chairman Dahal said that the culture of consensus has gradually been evolving in the country in the post-May 28 period and stressed on the need to move ahead taking the major opposition, NC, into confidence.



With Dahal submitting the name-list of minister nominees, PM Khanal is likely to expand his cabinet later in the day, as per the interim constitution of Nepal.



Meanwhile, PM Khanal has reached NC President Sushil Koirala’s residence in Maharajgunj to hold talks on the newly-emerged political situation.



List of minister nominees



• Narayankaji Shrestha – deputy prime minister / home

• Ram Kumar Rai – state minister for home

• Posta Bahadur Bogati – Information and Communications

• Amar Tamu -- State minister for Information and Communications

• Top Bahadur Rayamjhi – Physical Panning and Works

• Devi Khadka – State Minister for Physical Planning and Works

• Lokendra Bisht – health and population

• Satya Pahadi – State minister for health and population

• Pampha Bhusal – peace and reconstruction

• Saarad Singh Bhandari – state minister for peace and reconstruction

• Hisila Yamai – Land Reforms

• Lila Bhandari – State minister for Land reforms

• Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma – Tourism and Civil Aviation

• Indrajit Chaudhary – State Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation

• Lekharaj Bhatta – commerce and supplies

• Dharmashila Chapagain – State minister for commerce and supplies

• Prabhu Sah – Law and Justice

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