Maoist Ministers take oath expressing commitment for polls

Kathmandu, Dec 31 (UNI) Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today administered oath of office and secrecy to Maoist ministers ending the three-month political deadlock between the government and the Maoists.

Maoist Ministers Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Hisila Yami and Phampa Bhusal took oath at the State Hall in Singha Durbar.

Maoist Minister Matrika Yadav, who is currently in New Delhi, was absent from the Function. Nepali Congress 's Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki also took oath.

Mr Koirala appointed Mr Mahara as Minister for Information and Communications, Mr Gurung as Minister for Local Development, Mr Yami as Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Mr Yadav as Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation and Ms Bhusal as the Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare.

Ms Bhusal was the Maoists nominee for the ambassadorial post of France but has been inducted in the cabinet as her agreemo has not yet been received from the French government. All others held the same posts in the cabinet before they resigned in September.

The Maoists had walked off the Government on September 18 due to the dispute over declaring country a federal republic and introduction of proportionate representation system.

UNI