Nepal Prime Minister Deuba reshuffles cabinet again

Kathmandu [Nepal], October 17 (ANI): In a major cabinet reshuffle, Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has freed ministers representing Maoist from their posts.

Deuba has appointed newly sworn-in minister Kamal Thapa as the Minister for Energy along with the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

Apart from Thapa, three ministers who were sworn on Saturday but left without portfolio are assigned to three ministries. Dil Nath Giri was given the portfolio of Minister for Urban Development, Jayanta Chand as Minister for Supplies and Bikram Thapa as Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare.

Likewise, four state ministers without portfolio were given the post of state ministers with Bhaskar Bhadra as State Minister for Energy, Sushil Kumar Shrestha as State Minister for Supplies, Kunti Shah as State Minister for Urban Development, Kanta Bhattarai as State Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare.

The 17 Ministers and State Ministers from Maoist Center are freed from their respective portfolio and Prime Minister Deuba has undertaken the power of Ministry for Home Affairs, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Livestock Development, Science and Technology Ministry, Peace and Reconstruction Ministry and Ministry of General Administration.

There are a total of 64 Ministers and State Ministers in Deuba cabinet, which was formed five months ago after the Maoist Center leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal stepped down from the post paving way for Deuba to succeed over him.

By Binod Prasad Adhikari

(ANI)