President Ramchandra Paudel has appointed UML leader KP Sharma Oli as the Prime Minister of Nepal. The appointment was made in accordance with Article 76, Clause 2 of the Constitution, following the expiration of the President’s deadline at 5 pm on Sunday. Prime Minister Oli is set to be sworn in at 11 a.m. on Monday, as per Kiran Pokharel, the President’s press advisor.

This marks Oli’s fourth tenure as Prime Minister. He is expected to finalize his cabinet on Monday. The Congress and UML parties have been actively engaged in discussions regarding ministry allocation and the selection of ministers. An agreement has been reached to include the Madhesh-centric parties—Janata Samajwadi Party, Janata Samajwadi Party (Nepal), Democratic Socialist Party, People’s Freedom Party, and Janmat Party—in the government.

Out of the total 21 ministries, a preliminary agreement has been made wherein the UML, leading the government, will take 8 ministries, including finance, while the Congress will assume control of 9 ministries. The remaining four ministries have been designated for the Madhesh-centric parties.

The Congress is set to take charge of key ministries including home and foreign affairs, energy-water resources and irrigation, urban development, culture, tourism and civil aviation, law, justice and parliamentary affairs, federal affairs and general administration, among others. The UML is expected to oversee the Ministries of Communication and Information Technology, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Education, Science and Technology, Defence, Labour, Employment and Social Security, and Youth and Sports.