KATHMANDU, JULY 13

Sher Bahadur Deuba has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Deuba amid a ceremony at the former’s official residence, Sheetal Niwas.

The Office of the President earlier today had issued a notice stating that Deuba has been appointed the PM as per the Supreme Court’s Monday verdict. However, the same notice did not reveal the Article under which the appointment is being made, much to the surprise of many.

The SC in its order had specified that Deuba would become the PM in accordance with Article 76 (5) of the Constitution.

Newly appointed PM Deuba had then sent a message across to President Bhadari that he will not take the oath unless the notice is rectified and the article specified.

President Bhandari agreed to Deuba’s condition and appointed him pursuant to the aforementioned article.

The oath taking ceremony had proceeded two hours later than scheduled, at around 8:15 pm, after the president’s office corrected the statement. The ceremony was previously slated to commence at 6:00 pm, invitations to dignitaries to attend the event were extended on the basis of which.

PM Deuba will now have to gain the trust of  House of Representatives within 30 days, as provisioned by the Constitution.

Four ministers join Deuba

Four new ministers — two each from Nepali Congress and CPN- Maoist Centre — have joined Deuba’s cabinet, today.

NC’s Balkrishna Khand and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki have been sworn in as Home Minister and Minister for Law and Parliamentary affairs respectively.

Likewise, Pampha Bhusal and Janardan Sharma from Maoist Centre have been appointed Minister for Energy and Minister for Finance.