Minister of Communication and Information Technology and government spokesperson Rekha Sharma said the cabinet will be expanded only after the presidential election.

Speaking at a press meet held at the ministry to inform the decisions of the Cabinet on Tuesday, Sharma said that with the formation of the new coalition, discussions are yet to be held to finalise which parties will be in the government, following which the cabinet will be expanded.

Sharma also informed that the prime minister will take the vote of confidence only after the presidential election as the focus now is on the upcoming presidential election.

“After the presidential election, the confidence vote will be discussed in a systematic manner with the coalition partners,” said Sharma. “Since few parties have already quit the government, the cabinet will be expanded after deciding which parties will be a part of the government.”

Sharma, during the press conference, said that Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal could not attend the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council due to the changed political situation in the country.

Sharma said former Law Minister Govinda Prasad Sharma Koirala, as an adviser to the Prime Minister, has been sent to represent Nepal in the UNHRC session only for the purpose of the program.