KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inducted two more state ministers to his cabinet on Monday, taking the total number of ministers to 56.
The two new state ministers, Biraj Bista (Science and Technology) and Kamala Sharma (forest), are from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic). Deuba administered the oath of office and secrecy to both on Monday itself.
On September 10, PM Deuba had inducted four new faces from the RPP (D) to the cabinet as a part of the fifth expansion of his cabinet, taking the number of ministers in his cabinet to 54.
With the latest inclusion in the cabinet, Deuba government has three deputy prime ministers, 26 ministers, and 26 state ministers. Deuba is likely to induct additional ministers, as he currently holds the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction himself.
Deuba inducts additional 15 state ministers in his cabinet
Although the constitution has a provision not to exceed 25 ministers in the cabinet, each successive government after the promulgation of the new constitution in September 2015 has been violating the provision. They argue that the provision is meant to be effective only after the federal parliament is in place.
Experts said that no matter under what pretext a jumbo cabinet is formed, it is a violation of the constitutional provision. They maintain that it is the violation of constitutional standard to form a cabinet with more than 25 members.
Prime Minister Deuba had courted controversy for forming the largest-ever cabinet in his second stint as prime minister back in 1996. While KP Oli had formed a 40-member cabinet, his successor Pushpa Kamal Dahal had formed a 41-member cabinet, flouting the provision in the new constitution.
