Three newly appointed ministers in the Suhila Karki-led interim government took the oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony at Sheetal Niwas, the President's office, on Monday.

President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rameshore Khanal as finance minister, Kulman Ghising as minister for energy, water resources and irrigation, and Om Prakash Aryal as minister for home affairs.

Ghising will also lead the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Urban Development. Aryal has also been assigned the law, justice and parliamentary affairs portfolio.

With the expansion, the Cabinet, mandated to hold parliamentary polls within six months, now has four members. Prime Minister Karki continues to oversee the remaining ministerial portfolios.

Khanal, a former finance secretary, earlier chaired the High-Level Economic Reform Recommendation Commission and submitted a 447-page reform report to the KP Sharma Oli government.

Ghising, credited with playing a crucial role in ending chronic power cuts during his tenure as executive director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, was removed from the post in March by the Oli administration after a prolonged dispute.

Aryal, a noted lawyer who played a key role in the recent Gen Z negotiations, had reportedly wished to remain outside the Cabinet but later agreed to join. He was actively involved in talks with President Paudel, Prime Minister Karki, Gen Z representatives, and party leaders following last week’s deadly protests.

Prime Minister Karki, who assumed office on Sunday, has said she will keep the Cabinet limited to 15 members during this interim period. More appointments will follow in phases.

Ministers were sworn in in front of the ruins of Sheetal Niwas, with a ceremonial canopy set up for the occasion. Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and other senior officials attended the swearing-in ceremony.

The expansion comes as the country reels from last week’s anti-corruption protests under the Gen Z banner, which left over 70 dead and caused massive destruction of public and private property.

Sheetal Niwas suffered huge damage due to arson during the Gen Z movement last week. As a result, Prime Minister Karki’s oath-taking ceremony was held inside the presidential residence last Friday.

However, today’s event was organised under a tent set up near the ruins of the office to conduct the ministers’ oath-taking ceremony.