Kathmandu. The meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers took place on Thursday after the oath taking of office and secrecy of three new ministers. Finance minister Bishnu Paudel, Urban Development Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha  and Women, Social Welfare and Senior Citizens Minister Lila Shrestha joined the meeting as new members.

According to a minister attending the meeting, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli welcomed the ministers and told about his high expectations from the newly appointed ministers, in the very beginning. PM Oli also stressed that he would always support good initiations and instructed the ministers to show  positive signs in their ministries with commendable perfomances, the minister added.

PM Oli has assured other ministers of no further changes. There are rumors that after the decision of the restructuring of the Cabinet on September 11, the ministers have been showing less interest and working half-heartedly. Following the decision, PM Oli had relieved Ishwar Pokhrel from the responsibility of Ministry of Defense and appointed three new ministers.

Massive reshuffle of secretaries

The Cabinet meeting on Thursday has decided to transfer secretaries to different ministries.  According to a minister, Irrigation Secretary Rabindra Man Shrestha has been transferred to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport whereas Secretary at Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra karki has been transferred to Water and Energy Commission.

Similarly, Yadav Koirala, Secretary at Prime Minister’s Office has been transferred to Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration in place of Surya Gautam, who has been sent to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Ramesh Prasad Singh and  Ek Narayan Aryal have been transferred to Ministry of Urban Development and  Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation respectively.  Responsibilities of Kedar Neupane at the Prime Minister’s Office and Khaga Raj Baral at the Office of the Vice President have been exchanged.