Has Nepal PM Sushila Karki Expanded Her Cabinet?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sudha Gautam and Bablu Gupta are the latest additions to Karki's Cabinet.
- The appointments reflect a push for greater representation from the Gen Z demographic.
- Prime Minister Karki continues to hold multiple key portfolios.
- This expansion follows significant political changes in Nepal.
- Further Cabinet expansions are anticipated in the near future.
Kathmandu, Oct 26 (NationPress) The interim government of Nepal, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sushila Karki, has welcomed new members into her Cabinet this Sunday. The Prime Minister retains multiple ministerial roles.
Among the new appointments is Sudha Gautam, a former Health Secretary, who now serves as the Minister for Health and Population, and Bablu Gupta, a well-known social activist, appointed as the Minister for Youth and Sports. Gupta is recognized as a significant figure in the Gen Z movement. Both ministers took their oaths before President Ram Chandra Poudel at a ceremony held at the President’s Office.
Despite the speculation surrounding two other potential ministerial candidates, they were not part of this latest expansion. A faction of Gen Z leaders had previously urged Prime Minister Karki to include representatives from their demographic, as the majority of the past appointees were established professionals.
This marks the third occasion that Karki has expanded her Cabinet since her appointment as interim Prime Minister on September 12, a result of the protests led by Gen Z that led to the removal of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
Karki’s first Cabinet expansion occurred on September 14, when she appointed three ministers: Rameshore Khanal as Finance Minister, Kulman Ghising to manage several ministries (Physical Infrastructure and Transport; Urban Development; and Energy), and Om Prakash Aryal as Home Minister.
On September 22, she executed a second expansion, bringing on board four new ministers — Anil Kumar Sinha, Mahabir Pun, Madan Prasad Pariyar, and Jagadish Kharel — to oversee various governmental roles.
Sinha is responsible for three ministries: Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; and Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. Pun is the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, while Pariyar leads the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Kharel manages the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
Currently, Prime Minister Karki is anticipated to make further Cabinet expansions, as she continues to oversee several vital portfolios, including Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Defence, Water Supply, Labour, and Women and Children.