Nepal PM Prachanda restructures cabinet with 16 new ministers including 3 deputy PMs

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal recently restructured his Cabinet after breaking alliance with the Himalayan nation’s largest party, Nepali Congress and joining hands with CPN-UML.

Prachanda forged alliance with KP Sharma Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) party after terminating its nearly 15-month partnership with the Nepali Congress allegedly due to differences between the top leadership.

The new ministers were inducted on Wednesday from the CPN-UML, his own party the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

The three deputy Prime Ministers include Narayankaji Shrestha with the portfolio of Ministry of Foreign Affairs from CPN-Maoist Centre, Raghubir Mahaseth with the portfolio of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and, Ravi Lamichhane with the portfolio of Home Affairs from Rastriya Swotantra Party.

According to local media reports, Prachanda appointed four ministers from his party, seven from the CPN-UML, three from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and two from the CPN (Unified Socialist).  The forest and environment, and health and population portfolios are still held by the Prime Minister himself.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has officially withdrawn its support extended to the government following the formation of this new alliance. The Party has decided to stay in the opposition.