According to the information from the Presidents office, Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal has extended his cabinet for the eighth time by inducting Nepali congress leader Narayan Prasad Saud as foreign minister while Nanda Chapai has been assigned the portfolio of state minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Both the minister took oath at a ceremony in Kathmandu at Presidential Palace.Notably, earlier on March 31, Nepals PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal had reshuffled the cabinet after a pause of weeks when he was able to induct only 11 ministers which also included the state minister. It is said that the delay in the expansion of the cabinet has been attributed to a conflict inside the Nepali Congress, as ten parties have joined the alliance and each has its demands. Prime Minister Prachanda of Nepal has had eight cabinet reshuffles and two rounds of vote of confidence in the four months since his appointment, but he hasnt been able to fill every position.Dahal was able to enlist 5 parties last month with the support of 10 parties that joined the government coalition and supported him in the vote of confidence on March 20. PM Dahal still maintains the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Ministry of Health and Population, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports despite having filled the bulk of the ministries.Nepals new foreign ministerNarayan Prasad Saud from Nepali Congress was sworn in as Nepals new foreign minister on Sunday. Whereas, Ram Chandra Poudel took the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed foreign minister. Notably, the decision of appointing a foreign minister comes ahead of Nepal PMs proposed visit to India. However, the schedule for the visit has not been made public so far but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already started preparations to escort the neighbour country.Earlier this month, Prime Minister Dahal, retained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while he allocated the Ministry of Energy, which is a major area of interest in bilateral relations, to his party colleague Shakti Basnet.After making the changes, Nepal now has two deputy prime ministers, Narayankaji Shrestha, in charge of Home (Maoist Centre) and Purna Bahadur Khadka from Nepali Congress, who is also heading the Ministry of Defence. The list of the minister holding the different portfolios is following, as per the official website:Pushpa Kamal Dahal is holding the major portfolios in the cabinet, Forests and Environment, Health and Population Youth and Sports, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and Water Supply. While on the other hand, two deputy Prime Ministers Purna Bahadur Khadka will look after the Defence and Narayan Kaji Shrestha will look into Home Affairs.Dr Beduram Bhusal: Agriculture and Livestock DevelopmentAshok Kumar Rai: Education, Science and TechnologySarat Singh Bhandari: Labour, Employment and Social SecurityPrakash Sharan Mahat: FinanceMahindra Ray Yadav: Women, Children and Senior CitizensShakti Bahadur Basnet: Energy, Water Resources and IrrigationNarayan Prakash Saud: Foreign AffairsRekha Sharma: Communications and Information TechnologySudan Kirati: Culture, Tourism and Civil AviationAmanlal Modi: Federal Affairs and General AdministrationPrakash Jwala: Physical Infrastructure and TransportRanjita Shrestha: Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty AlleviationRamesh Rijal: Industry, Commerce and SuppliesSita Gurung: Urban DevelopmentSushila Sirpali Thakuri: Culture, Tourism and Civil AviationNanda Chapai: Physical Infrastructure and TransportJaishankar congratulates Nepals new foreign ministerIndias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated the new foreign minister of Nepal Narayan Prasad Saud on his appointment. Talking to Tweeter, he said, “Congratulate H.E. NP Saud on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Nepal. Look forward to working together to strengthen our multifaceted partnership. Best wishes for success in your new role.”Reportedly, in 2014, NP Saud was the irrigation minister in the Sushil Koiralas government.
