NATIONAL 6 -(Spotlight Weekly)]

Uneasy Composition

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala constitutes new cabinet inducting Chakra Banstola as a foreign minister

By KESHAB POUDEL

Breaking his own long tradition, Prime Minister Koirala picked up Chakra Prasad Banstola as a foreign minister in his 25 member cabinet setting a new record in his fourth tenure. This is for the first time when he handed over Shital Niwas to an independent minister.

Koirala in his new cabinet included MPs representing different regions, castes and political groups to maintain balance in the party. He also indicated his intention to promote second generation leader by inducting Ram Chandra Poudel as a deputy prime minister giving portfolio of Ministry of Local Development.

Although he was voted by majority of the young generation members in the elections of parliamentary party, prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala included large number of old faces in his cabinet.

An assertive prime minister did not realized that with limited time on his hands, he has no alternatives but to press for change regardless of the opposition in the party.

Banstola - a former Royal Nepalese ambassador to India, nomination is understandable as he is the MP in the Congress who can replace Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat. Newly appointed foreign minister is also have good hob-nob with Indian socialists leaders like Indian Defense Minister George Fernandis. Banstola headed Nepalese mission in India during the first tenure of prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Koirala first step, political analysts see, no more than a continuity of Bhattarai government as dozens of ministers were picked up from old cabinet.

At a time when the country is implementing the Agriculture Perspective Plan, Prime Minister Bhattarai ignored importance of ministry appointing Bal Dev Sharma Majgaiya as a minister of state.

New faces who opposed former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai were sidelined in the formation of the cabinet. "Girijababu ignored our importance in the party," says a young MP on condition of anonymity.

First time Koirala break the tradition by appointing foreign minster. He hold the foreign minister under him for the fifth time Nepal is defensive position.

Despite prime minister Koirala's assurance to form small cabinet, his first least showed otherwise.

"Koirala's cabinet constitution fails to justify the change of leadership as he also inducted all old faces who were with former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai," said a political analyst.

Cabinet

1. Girija Prasad Koirala	Royal Palace, Defence, Supply, Housing and Physical Planning, Women and Social Welfare, Youth Sports and Culture, Labor and General Administration.
2.Ram Chandra Poudel	Deputy Prime Minister Local Development
3.Khum Bahadur Khadka	Water Resources and Work and Transport
4.Govinda Raj Joshi	Home
5.Chakra Banstola	Foreign Affairs
6.Mahanta Thakur	Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
7.Siddhi Raj Ojha	Land Reform and Management
8.Jaya Prakash Ananda Gupta	Information and Communication
9.Dr.Rambaran Yadav	Health
10.Mahesh Acharya	Fiance
11.Ram Krishna Tamrakar	Industry and Trade
12.Taraini Dutta Chataut	Tourism and Civil Aviation
13.Amod Prasad Upadhyaya	Education
14.Surendra Prasad Chaudhari	Science and Technology

Minister for States

1. Baldev Sharma Majgaiya	Agriculture
2. Shiva Raj Joshi	Population and Environment
3. Mohammed Aftlab Alam	Forest and Soil Conservation
4. Ram Bahadur Gurung	Water Resources
5. Mrs. Kamala Panta	Women and Social Welfare
6. Narendra Bikram Nembang	Industry and Trade
7. Dilendra Prasad Badu	Education
8. Surendra Hamal	Labor
9. Gopal Rai	Land Reform and Management
10. Suresh Malla	Local Development
11. Tirtha Ram Dangol	Health