Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expanded the interim government by adding five new ministers on Sunday. This brings the total strength of Karki’s cabinet to nine members. Following the recommendation of Karki, President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Anil Kumar Sinha, Mahabir Pun, Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra, Jagdish Kharel, and Madan Pariyar as ministers, according to sources from the President’s Office.
The new ministers are scheduled to take their oath of office at the Presidential Palace today. As per sources, Anil Kumar Sinha will be in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, while Mahabir Pun will be assigned to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra will head the Ministry of Health and Population, Jagdish Kharel will take over the Ministry of Information and Communication, and Madan Pariyar will lead the Ministry of Agriculture. Including the Prime Minister, who retains several key portfolios, the cabinet now comprises nine ministers.
Dr. Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra will be responsible for the Ministry of Health and Population. Previously an Additional Secretary in the Ministry, she resigned on Sunday to clear her path for the ministerial position. Mahabir Pun, the chairman of the Rashtriya Aavishkar Kendra (National Innovation Center), will oversee the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Jagdish Kharel, a veteran journalist and former news head at Image Media Group, will be responsible for the Ministry of Communication, Information, and Technology.
Furthermore, Madan Pariyar will lead the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Industry and Land Reforms will be managed by former judge Anil Kumar Sinha. The interim cabinet now includes nine ministers in total. Prime Minister Sushila Karki has retained control of several significant ministries.
Sushila Karki assumed the role of interim Prime Minister on September 12. The previous government, led by KP Sharma Oli, collapsed following widespread protests led by GEN-Z, which focused on issues of corruption and social media restrictions. Her appointment brought an end to a period of political instability.
The interim government is slated to continue its operations until the general elections, which have been set for March 5. Upon taking office, Sushila Karki appointed Kulma Ghising as Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Physical Planning, Rameswar Khanal as Finance Minister, and Om Prakash Aryal as Home Minister.