Kathmandu, January 13
The Nepali Congress has challenged Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to explain why he formed a super-size, 40-member Cabinet, including six deputy prime ministers. It accused PM Oli of trying to empty the state coffers.
NC leader and former foreign minister Mahesh Acharya, speaking at Wednesday’s meeting of the Parliament’s Good Governance and Monitoring Committee, called Oli to justify the rationale behind his decision to split ministries and appoint 40 ministers.
As per the new constitution’s transitional arrangements, the head of the government can appoint deputy prime ministers and ministers as per the need. But Congress lawmaker Acharya said the Cabinet expansion is unjustifiable. Disintegration of ministries for appointment of a large team of ministers, including deputy prime ministers, depletes the state coffers, he pointed, suggesting that the committee invite PM Oli for discussion on the issue. The committee’s annual report should include this extravagance on the part of PM Oli, Acharya said, reminding that the good governance committee should not ignore decisions that cost the exchequer heavily.
