Nepali Congress joins Koshi government

Biratnagar, September 13 — After two and a half months of the ruling coalition formed between the Congress and the CPN-UML, the Nepali Congress has now joined the Koshi Province government. Today, Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki appointed three ministers and one state minister from the Congress. However, one ministry remains vacant.

The newly appointed ministers are Bhupendra Rai as Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, Khagen Singh Hangam as Minister for Industry, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, Sadanand Mandal as Minister for Tourism, Forest, and Environment, and Bhumi Prasad Rajbanshi as State Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development.

The new ministers took their oaths of office and secrecy this morning from Province Chief Parshuram Khapung. With the addition of four ministers from the Congress, the total number of members in the Koshi Province Cabinet has reached ten.

Among the Congress appointees, Rai and Rajwanshi are from the Krishna Sitaula group, while Hangam and Mandal are from the establishment faction. It is reported that one minister and one state minister will be appointed from Dr. Shekhar Koirala's group, though their names have not yet been finalized, leaving the Ministry of Health vacant for now.

Previously, the CPN-UML had already appointed Ram Bahadur Magar as Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Panch Karna Rai as Minister for Social Development, Ekraj Karki as Minister for Drinking Water, Irrigation, and Energy, Lilabhallabh Adhikari as Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, and Srijana Rai as State Minister at the Chief Minister’s Office.