Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel swore in three new ministers in the caretaker cabinet headed by Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday.
Karki, 73, the nation’s first female prime minister and a past chief justice, took office on Sunday following a spell of political turmoil. She inducted Kulman Ghising, Rameshwor Khanal, and Om Prakash Aryal as ministers later in the evening.
The oath-taking ceremony took place at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office in Maharajgunj, where the three ministers took oath before assuming charge of their ministries.
Portfolios Assigned
Former finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal has been assigned charge of the Finance Ministry. Kulman Ghising, who has previously served as the head of the Nepal Electricity Authority, has been assigned three core ministries: Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and Urban Development. Attorney Om Prakash Aryal will take care of the Home Ministry as well as the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.
Political Context
Karki was appointed to head the caretaker government after the previous Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned last week. Oli resigned after nationwide protests staged by the Gen Z movement opposing restrictions on social media and corruption allegations. The protests turned violent, killing at least 72.
The caretaker government led by Karki has the responsibility of conducting the coming general elections that have been set for March 5, 2026.
