KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has taken oath as the 40th Prime Minister of Nepal, administered by President Bidya Devi Bhandari, in Kathmandu. He formed his Cabinet by inducting seven new ministers, including three Deputy Prime Ministers; three from Nepali Congress, three from CPN, and one from Nepal Loktantrik Forum.
Gopal Man Shrestha from Nepali Congress has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Farmullah Mansoor as Minister for Finance and Minister for Labour and Employment, respectively. Krishna Bahadur Mahara of CPN (Maoist Centre) has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, CPN (MC) leader Janardhan Sharma has been appointed as Minister for Home Affairs and Prabhu Sah has been appointed as minister without portfolio.
The induction of new ministry has given Nepali citizens hope for development. Rumu Neupane, a resident in Kathmandu, said, “With newly elected Prime Minister, I hope for the development, reduction of dusts in the roads, and an end to corruption. The biggest of all is the development of the nation.” Another resident said, “For the implementation of the Constitution, all the elections should be held on time. The second one is the projects of national pride: fast track, Budhi Ganadaki and others should gain completion phase.”
Deuba faces the challenge of appeasing all supporting parties to stand firm on all issues. Downside to the overwhelming support while forming coalition government might take him down for their own vested interests. Analyst Prateek Pradhan said, “It's all about the coalition government. The political parties are more interested to get seats and better positions, better ministries so that they can show their work as well as can earn some money happily, if they are corrupt.” He added, “Sher Bahadur garnered almost two-third majority, 388 if he gets 393 that is the two-third majority, he has already got 388 seats but if the smaller political parties who have some kind of greed, some kind of expectations from the Prime Minister if they don't get benefit from the ministry they might desert him soon.”
The new PM has to first face the challenge of holding the second phase election which is 21 days ahead from the day of his swearing-in.
