KATHMANDU, Aug 20: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is inducting 21 state ministers to his cabinet.

10 state ministers will be added from Nepali Congress (NC), eight from CPN (Maoist Center) and three from Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led Nepal Democratic Forum.

Maoist Center has finalized the names of its leaders joining the Deuba led government. Meanwhile, State ministers from NC and Democratic Forum will be sworn-in before PM’s India visit, according to sources.

The being sworn-in state ministers and their portfolio (from Maoist Center)

Shyam Kumar Shrestha (Home Affairs),

Karna Bahadur BK (Supplies),

Wanji Shrepa (General Administration),

Shambhu Lal Shrestha (Health),

Jakir Hussein (Energy),

Goma Kunwar (Livestock Development),

Cham Bahadur Gurung (Urban Development) and

Rama Singh Yadav (Foreign Affairs).

The state ministers are scheduled to take oath of office and secrecy from the prime minister today.

KATHMANDU, June 9: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has sought what it terms as a ‘respectable position’ in the newly formed Cabinet.

The party has stated that it supported Nepali Congress President, Sher Bahadur Deuba, as the country’s next Prime Minister, but did not receive an expected reciprocation. The party has also slammed Congress for ‘violating the commitment’.

RPP has even formed a task force under the coordination of General Secretary Jayanta Chand with Chief Whip Kunti Kumari Shahi and Dilnath Giri as members so as to take necessary decision over the matter.

Task force member Giri said a joint meeting had been held with Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) for participation in the government, but the talks could not make any headway on division of the ministries.

RPP Spokesperson, Bhuvan Pathak, said the fourth largest party in the Parliament – if not given a respectable position in the government – would not participate for mere sake of participation. RPP currently holds 37 seats in the Parliament. RSS