The Expanded Cabinet

The Council of Ministers that was first formed on December 26 following the November 20 election has now got the full shape. This paves way for smooth functioning of the government and unhindered delivery of services to the people. President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday constituted a 23-member Council of Ministers on the recommendation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, with new appointments and allocation of portfolios. In the earlier cabinet, there were three Deputy Prime Ministers with the responsibilities of the Ministries of Finance, Home, and Physical Infrastructure and Transport. In the eight-member Council of Ministers, four ministers were not fixed their ministry portfolios. This was the result of a special political circumstance where consultations, division of responsibilities and consensus had to be worked out among the ruling coalition partners. 

As seven parties in the alliance have differing ideologies and partisan policies, there was a need to forge working agreement in the form of common minimum programme (CMP) so that no party in the coalition could raise any hindrance regarding the government's policy, programmes and service delivery. The ruling coalition members have already come up with the common standing on government programmes with national interest and people's welfare in the centre of priority. The CMP has already been agreed upon and the Prime Minister has received overwhelming support from members of the House of Representatives. These developments created an environment of clear go-ahead for giving full shape to the cabinet though some more members may be accommodated in the future on the principle of inclusiveness. One of the coalition partners, Janata Samajwadi Party, has no representation in this cabinet right now. The Nagarik Unmukti Party has stayed out with its own demands and reservations. 

Critics had their own points to make over the passage of weeks in run up to Tuesday's constitution of 23-member Council of Ministers. However, there was the overriding compulsion to move ahead on the accommodative and inclusive path to make the government stable and efficient. This cabinet is characterised by the entry of new parties and new faces. Significantly, there are 15 new faces in the cabinet including four women and the young members are full of energy, enthusiasm and vigour. They will carve a niche in the political sphere and shape their political career by serving the people with all dedication, hard work and sincerity. The nation is passing through economic difficulties and hit hard by inflation. The deep scars of the COVID-19 pandemic are still afflicting the populace. 

In this situation, the road ahead for the government is full of challenges. The highest executive team of the nation led by Prime Minister Prachanda has the onus to be fulfilled by honouring the mandate of the people expressed during the elections. People have high hopes and full trust in the government that their grievances will be addressed and the nation will advance on the path of development and prosperity. People participated is an important democratic exercise in the recent elections, the second after the promulgation of the new constitution. As the democratic system moves ahead with timely institutionalisation, the deeper aspirations of the people are for getting out of poverty and economic backwardness. The new government's best performance should emanate from this public aspiration.