A beleaguered Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli appointed eight new ministers in his cabinet after expelling his rival, former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda from the ruling, NCP, reported The Himalayan Times. President Bidhya Devi Bandhari administered the oath of secrecy to newly appointed ministers on Friday. 

The appointment came due to the resignations of ministers loyal to Oli’s rivals Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Nepal on 20 November. They were protesting the sudden dissolution of the house by Prime Minister Oli. On Friday, Oli also removed two of his ministers and changed the portfolio of six ministers. 

Among the newly appointed ministers, three were earlier associated with the Prachanda faction but switched sides after the dissolution of the house. In a parallel meeting of the party, Prachanda and Madhav Nepal earlier removed Prime Minister Oli from the post of party chairman on Tuesday. 

In a separate meeting on the same day, Tuesday, Prime Minister Oli had called for a general convention of the party in November next year. Oli also formed a new 1199 member committee to strengthen his hold on the party.