Ruling alliance finalizes power-sharing agreement; decides to expand cabinet by Thursday evening

A meeting of the 10-party ruling coalition has decided to expand the cabinet by Thursday evening.

An agreement in principle has been forged among the ruling parties about the expansion of the Council of Ministers.

The meeting of the senior leaders of the coalition partners Wednesday decided that the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives, will get eight ministries.

As per the understanding, CPN (Maoist Center) will get five ministries, Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) and CPN (Unified Socialist) will get two ministries each, while Nagarik Unmukti Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Aam Janata Party, and Nepal Samajbadi Party each will get one ministry.

Janamat Party will also get one minister of state.

Interestingly, the Aam Janata Party and Nepal Samajbadi Party have only one lawmaker each in the lower house.