Prime Minister Sushila Karki Expands Cabinet for Third Time, Swears in Two New Ministers

KalimNews, October 25, 2025, Kathmandu, Nepal : Prime Minister Sushila Karki expanded her Cabinet for the third time on Sunday, with the appointment of two new ministers. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office, where President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam, who takes over as the Minister for Health and Population, and Bablu Gupta, appointed as the Minister for Youth and Sports.

The latest reshuffle follows the youth-led anti-corruption movement that led to the ousting of the previous government under KP Sharma Oli and the subsequent rise of Prime Minister Karki. The movement, which led to significant political changes, paved the way for Karki’s government after the formation of her administration on September 12. This reshuffle, occurring roughly six weeks after Karki assumed office, reflects the government's ongoing adjustments to meet its new political and administrative goals.

While two ministers were sworn in on Sunday, initial plans had been in place to appoint four new ministers. However, two nominations were pulled back at the last moment. Ganapatilal Shrestha, who was initially recommended for the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, was not appointed, following reports that he had expressed a preference for leading the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation instead. Shrestha’s nomination was retracted, and sources close to the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that he did not wish to take on the land ministry position.

In another development, Khagendra Sunar, who had been suggested as the new Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, had his nomination withdrawn after it was revealed that he was facing multiple pending legal cases in various courts. As a result, Sunar’s appointment was put on hold, and his swearing-in was canceled.

Despite these last-minute changes, the new cabinet remains a significant step for Prime Minister Karki, who is working towards stabilizing her government and executing the promises of the anti-corruption movement. The new cabinet, with the inclusion of Gautam and Gupta, now comprises ten members, including Prime Minister Karki.

Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam, the newly appointed Health Minister, was previously the Health Secretary and has extensive experience in managing health policy. Immediately after her swearing-in, Dr. Gautam took charge of the Ministry of Health, marking the beginning of her new responsibilities. Bablu Gupta, appointed as the Minister for Youth and Sports, is known for his leadership as the chairman of the 100 Group, a prominent youth organization in the country.

Prime Minister Karki, who assumed office on September 27, 2025, following the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has already expanded the cabinet twice before. On September 30, Karki appointed Rameshwar Khanal, Om Prakash Aryal, and Kulman Ghising as ministers in her first cabinet expansion. The second expansion, on October 6, saw the inclusion of Anil Kumar Sinha, Mahavir Pun, Madan Prasad Pariyar, and Jagdish Kharel in her cabinet.

This third cabinet expansion, despite the last-minute changes, has been seen as another strategic move to align the cabinet with the vision of the anti-corruption movement that brought Karki to power. In previous cabinet expansions, Karki had assigned critical portfolios, including Finance and Federal Affairs to Rameshwar Khanal, Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to Kulman Ghising, and Home Affairs, Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs to Om Prakash Aryal.

In the second round of cabinet appointments, the responsibilities were more diversified with key positions, such as Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs assigned to former Supreme Court Justice Anil Kumar Sinha, and Madan Prasad Pariyar given the Agriculture and Livestock Development portfolio. Meanwhile, Mahavir Pun was given the responsibility of Education, Science, and Technology, and Jagdish Kharel took on the Communications and Information Technology portfolio.

This ongoing expansion reflects Prime Minister Karki’s commitment to strengthening her administration, addressing governance challenges, and ensuring a fair and effective execution of the promises made during the anti-corruption protests that led to her ascendancy.

As the country watches these developments, it remains to be seen how the new cabinet will address the complex socio-political issues facing Nepal, especially in terms of governance reform and anti-corruption measures. Prime Minister Karki’s leadership and the evolving makeup of her cabinet will likely play a key role in shaping the future of Nepal’s political landscape.