Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reshuffled his Cabinet late on Wednesday inducting three new ministers — Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Krishna Gopal Shrestha and Lilanath Shrestha.
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari approved the reshuffle at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli.
According to a press release issued by the President’s Office, Bishnu Prasad Paudel is the new Finance Minister, Krishna Gopal Shrestha the new Minister of Urban Development and Lilanath Shrestha the new Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens.
This is the second time Paudel, who is General Secretary of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), has been appointed as the Finance Minister.
Parbat Gurung, who earlier was the Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, has been appointed Minister of Communications and Information Technology while Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel, who earlier was the Minister of Defence, is the new Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
PM Oli has kept the vacant portfolio for Defence Ministry for himself.
All the ministers are close confidants of Oli. After the reshuffle, the Oli-led Cabinet will have 25 ministers, with three ministers of state.
The ruling Nepal Communist Party is also likely to reshuffle provincial cabinets soon, with Karnali Province as priority, to pacify disgruntled provincial assembly members.
