The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is preparing to swear in senior leader Balendra Shah as the Prime Minister and some other leaders as ministers in a single ceremony on Chaitra 13. For that, discussions are ongoing between RSP President Ravi Lamichhane and Shah to prepare a list of leaders who will become ministers. Both leaders are also calling other top leaders and potential ministers as needed during the discussions. 

According to a top leader, the list of ministers who will take oath along with Prime Minister Shah includes party Vice President Swarnim Wagle as the Finance Minister and Shishir Khanal as the Foreign Minister. Although Sunil Lamsal is also sure to take oath as a minister, the ministry has not been decided. The leader said that discussions are underway to give him the responsibility of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. However, since the future Prime Minister is close to Shah, there has also been talk of giving Lamsal the Home Ministry.

According to a leader from Shah's party, there will be at least three women ministers in the cabinet. "13 people have been directly elected, while 48 have become MPs through proportional representation. It is certain that 3-4 women will become ministers. Consultations are ongoing on who to make them," he said.

According to another leader who participated in the discussion to select ministers, discussions are underway to make Sobita Gautam and Indira Rana ministers from among women. "Discussions are underway between the party president and senior leaders about the selection of ministers. It is certain that 3-4 people will become ministers. The background of other potential people along with their qualifications and capabilities are being studied," he said. The leader informed that consultations are also being held on the option of giving Sobita the responsibility of the Speaker.

The number of ministries is being kept to 15 to 18 and a maximum of 15 people will be made ministers. Consultations are also being held among the leaders on the issue of giving one person the responsibility of up to two ministries based on the need and capacity. Another leader who participated in the discussion said that discussions have been held on whether to have a Deputy Prime Minister or not, but no decision has been made.

President Lamichhane, senior leader Shah, along with vice-presidents DP Aryal and Wagle, had a preliminary discussion on the list of ministers in a meeting held at the Royal Singhe Hotel on 5 Chaitra. Discussions between Lamichhane and Shah have been ongoing since then.

RSP General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti said that although discussions are ongoing on the issue of ministers, no conclusion has been reached. ‘Discussions are being held on who will be given the responsibility of which ministry,’ he said, ‘There is a possibility that the ministry will be formed between 15 and 18.’

RSP spokesperson Manish Jha said that discussions are underway so that all ministers will take oath along with the Prime Minister and start working immediately. ‘The president and senior leaders, including the top leadership, are discussing the personality, background, and experience of the MPs who will become ministers, and a decision is made on that basis,’ he said.

Lamichhane and Shah are also discussing the government’s initial priorities and the implementation of the plans presented to the people in the party’s manifesto before the elections. Homework is being done on the steps to be taken for good governance, reforms to be made in ministries, etc.

‘Work is being done internally on the reform of ministries, a team is working on how to reform the ministry,’ said General Secretary Burlakoti, ‘Separate discussions are being held on the issues of ministers, other appointments, the number of ministries, and steps to be taken for good governance.’

The RSP leaders have also urged those who took political appointments during the previous government to pave the way for the new government to work smoothly. RSP spokesperson Jha said that qualified people will be hired and those who are not capable will be asked to step down. ‘The party’s policy is to remove appointments made on the basis of political nepotism, appointments should be made on the basis of capability,’ he said, ‘Those who are honest, capable and are delivering well, they can rest assured.’ 

Jha says that appointments made to provide jobs to cadres will be cancelled and that the party will not bring its own people to those positions, and if it has to bring them, it will fill the positions through competition. ‘If appointments have been made to accommodate cadres, then they should be removed from their posts. We have already added to the country's debt by setting up commissions and missions. We will improve the tendency to eat ghee by taking loans, there is no political interest in this,’ he said, ‘It is not that we will remove the appointments of the old party and bring our own.’

A leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said that preparations are underway to take steps in a meticulous manner on the issue of good governance and that the team of future Prime Minister Shah is already working on how much work to do for that. ‘Many issues are in the party's manifesto, we will implement the manifesto,’ he said, ‘We have taken it seriously to implement it in 5 to 7 years, we have also asked those who will hold ministries to base the manifesto on it.’