HEADLINES

Kathmandu Friday July 27, 2001 Shrawan 12,  2058.

Premier Deuba, 12 ministers sworn in

Post Report

KATHMANDU, July 26 - Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba took the oath of office along with his 12 ministers today, five days after he was elected leader of the parliamentary party by lawmakers from his Nepali Congress (NC) on Sunday.

His Cabinet was only announced today though the list was already proposed and forwarded to the Royal Palace on Wednesday evening after days of haggling, negotiating and shuttling between the houses of the leaders.

Deuba had refused to take the oath of office until today as his astrologers were not able to find an auspicious time for him to take over the office. The few days of break has already earned Deuba criticism accusing him of leaving the country in a even more state of confusion after the resignation of Girija Prasad Koirala.

This was also the first time that new King Gyanendra has administered the oath of office to a Prime Minster and his Council of Ministers since ascending the throne as the constitutional monarch.

Deuba has kept a bulk of the ministries for himself that will be distributed during the expansion following the current parliamentary session.

Khum Bahadur Khakda was appointed the powerful Home Minister while Ram Sharan Mahat will continue as the Finance Minister. Mahat had presented the fiscal budget estimates earlier this month, which will come up for voting after discussions in the Parliament.

Mahesh Acharya and Amod Upadhaya who are considered to be close aides of Koirala were also included in the Cabinet as promised by Deuba to form a balanced Cabinet.

Jaya Prakash Gupta, a one-time strategist of Koirala was appointed the Minister for Information and Communications. He had left the Koirala camp and resigned from the government few months back over differences with colleagues in the government.

Following the swearing in ceremony, the Cabinet met for the first time where they reportedly discussed the Maoist issue and endorsed the call for cease fire and peace talks made by Deuba.

Meanwhile, Koirala has left the Capital city for his home constituency of Biratnagar where he told party workers to support the new government as much as they had supported his.

"The government and the Prime Minister is okay so why should we not support him?" said Koirala adding that now he only had the responsibility of party presidentship and he would concentrate on this job.

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