President administers oath to PM Oli and his team

President Ramchandra Poudel on Monday administered oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Prime Minister Khagda Prasad Sharma Oli amidst a special ceremony at Rastrapati Bhawan, Sheetalniwas, Kathmandu.

Chairman of CPN-UML Oli was appointed Prime Minister of Nepal as per Article 76-2 of the Constitution of Nepal by President Paudel on Sunday. Oli became the Prime Minister for the fourth time with the support of Nepali Congress party.

A 22 member council of ministers formed under the leadership of Oli was announced as the Prime Minister was attending the swearing – in ceremony at the Rastrapati Bhawan on Monday. Besides PM Oli, President Paudel also administered oath of office and secrecy to Deputy Prime Ministers Prakash Man Singh and Bishnu Paudel during the occasion. He also administered oath of office and secrecy to 19 other ministers as well.

Nepali Congress and CPN-UML having 88 and 79 seats respectively in the House of Representatives inked a deal last week to form a new coalition to replace CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda.” Under the agreement the two parties will share the post of Prime Minister turn by turn for the remaining period of the Parliament. Oli will be the Prime Minister for a period of 18 months in the first phase as per the deal.

Deputy Prime Ministers Prakash Man Singh and Bishnu Paudel have got the portfolios of Urban Development and Finance, while Arzoo Rana Deuba, wife of NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba has been appointed as the Foreign Minister. Similarly, Ramesh Lekhak has been appointed Home Minister, Prithvi Subba Gurung Minister for Information Technology and Communication, Badri Pandey Tourism and Culture while Deepak Khadka got the portfolio of Energy and Water Resources.