National
Ministries split to create posts
The KP Sharma Oli-led government has split three ministries to accommodate more ministers from the left alliance and to take the Madhes-based parties on board.A meeting of top leaders from the governing CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) had taken the decision on Friday morning, according to Binod Kuwar, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office.The KP Sharma Oli-led government has split three ministries to accommodate more ministers from the left alliance and to take the Madhes-based parties on board.
A meeting of top leaders from the governing CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) had taken the decision on Friday morning, according to Binod Kuwar, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Oli government had decided in February-end to have 17 ministries at the Centre.
The PMO had been working to restructure the ministries based on that government is holding negotiations with the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and the Rastriya Janata Party, Nepal to include them in the Cabinet, leaders argue that increasing the number of ministries has been necessary.
Ruling party leaders have, however, said the government will not breach the constitutional limit of 25 ministers. “Since the ruling parties faced intense pressure to accommodate a large number of aspirants, we decided to split the ministries,” said an aide to the PM. “But the council of ministers won’t be larger than that mandated by the constitution.” (PR)