The CPN (Maoist Center) has decided to make senior Vice-Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha a minister in the first phase. An office bearers meeting held at the party office in Parisdanda on Monday has decided to send Shrestha in the government along with the deputy prime minister. Newly elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is taking the oath of office and secrecy amidst a program at the Sheetal Niwas this afternoon.

However, it has not been decided yet which ministry Shrestha will get in the new government.

Most probably, Shrestha, Deputy General Secretary Barshaman Pun, Mahindra Raya Yadav and Rekha Sharma will be the ministers from the Maoist Center. Shrestha and Pun, who had played an instrumental role to make Dahal the prime minister in the first phase, will be made ministers in the beginning, a senior leader of the Maoist Center said. Nrayankaji Shrestha, Dev Gurung and Barshaman Pun were in constant touch with the CPN-UML leaders from the beginning. Dahal was elected as the prime minister for the third time with the support of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on Sunday. President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed Dahal as the prime minister as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution.