Hectic lobbying for Cabinet posts

As a three-member Cabinet led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was sworn in on Thursday, there was hectic lobbying and widespread speculations over the possible line-up of members in the interim election government.
Informed sources said Regmi was given a free hand to choose former chief secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire as the home and foreign affairs minister and former law secretary Hari Prasad Neupane as the law, labour and employment minister.
A political source claimed that there will be unofficial recommendations from the major parties for the remaining eight Cabinet members.
Retired bureaucrats are learnt to have reached out to the leadership of the major parties to secure berths in the Cabinet . Similarly, there are voices that the Cabinet , which so far consists of three male Brahmins, should be more inclusive with the representation of women and marginalised groups. “We expect that the chairman of the government will constitute an inclusive Cabinet ,” said Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato.
Former finance secretary Bidhyadhar Malik and former industry secretary Umakanta Jha are key contenders from the Madhesi community, while former Secretary at the PM’s Office Brinda Hada may represent women in the Cabinet . Former Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal, who served as economic advisor to former PM Baburam Bhattarai, was pitched as a contender for finance minister.
Sources claimed that Malik, who is now an advisor to President Ram Baran Yadav, has greater chances for the Finance Ministry. According to political and bureaucratic sources, some contenders for the post are former home secretaries Umesh Mainali and Govinda Kusum, former Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority secretary Bhagawati Kafle and former energy secretary Shankar Koirala. Mainali is considered close to the Nepali Congress, while Kusum, who is also affiliated to the Chaudhary Group, is close to CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel.
Former local development secretary Ram Kumar Shrestha, former physical development and works secretary Purna Prasad Kadariya are also being discussed as tentative candidates from the UCPN (Maoist). Former general secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Surya Kiran Gurung is also speculated to figure in the list.
Despite pressure to include retired security chiefs in the Cabinet , parties signed an agreement to only include retired special class officers from the civil service to avoid maneuvering and foul play, according to one leader. Former Armed Police Chief Sanat Kumar Basnet had reached out to leaders to secure a post, while the name of the retired Nepal Police Chief, Rabindra Pratap Shah, had also figured in discussions.
A senior government source said that the date for the second round of oath taking has yet to be set. "It is likely that all the remaining eight members will be sworn in together," said the official.