As the ruling coalition sets its sights on expanding the Cabinet once again, the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government is likely to have more than 40 ministers.

This would put the incumbent government almost on a par with some of the largest Cabinets the country has seen after it was declared a federal democratic republic in 2008.

Dahal is said to be preparing to add four ministers and about 10 state ministers to the 31-member Cabinet. According to sources, the prime minister is set to hand one ministry each to the Maoist Centre and the Nepali Congress, and the remaining two to the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Loktantrik.

The NC has also been demanding at least eight state ministers, while the Rastriya Prajatantra Party—a coalition partner—has asked for two and the MJF-L one additional state minister.

The 31-member Cabinet already includes eight ministers from the Maoist Centre, 15 from the NC, two from the RPP and one from the CPN (Samyukta). It also has four state ministers from the Maoist Centre. “If the Cabinet does not get its full shape before Tihar, it should expand soon after the Chhath in three weeks,” said NC leader Gyanendra Karki.

If Dahal pays heed to all the demands, the size of the Cabinet will be a staggering 46-member.

This would surpass the

previous KP Sharma Oli-led government’s size which had 41 ministers. Oli’s Cabinet had a record six deputy prime ministers, 22 ministers, ten state ministers and two assistant ministers.

In 2011, Baburam Bhattarai led the largest Cabinet in the country’s history. The former Maoist leader presided over a 49-member Cabinet that included two deputy PMs, 24 ministers and 22 state ministers. In 1990s, the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government also had a record breaking 48-member team.

The constitution states

that the council of ministers should not have more than 25 members. But leaders point to the “transitional provision” of the statute to justify the appointment of more ministers.

Largest cabinets in history

 - Baburam Bhattarai: 49 members

 - Sher Bahadur Deuba: 48 members

 - KP Sharma Oli: 41 members