Nepal's interim government expands cabinet, sets March 5 vote

Nepal’s interim government, led by former chief justice Sushila Karki, moved this week to consolidate its authority and address the fallout from violent youth-led protests by expanding the cabinet, ordering high-level probes into the unrest and setting a timetable for national elections. Karki, sworn in on September 12 as the country’s first female prime minister, has vowed to hold a parliamentary vote on March 5 and to tackle corruption and unemployment that fuelled the demonstrations.

On Sunday and Monday the prime minister recommended and swore in new ministers to her interim Council of Ministers. Karki initially proposed five names for induction, including former Supreme Court justice Anil Kumar Sinha, development innovator Mahabir Pun, journalist Jagdish Kharel, public health official Sangita Kaushal Mishra and agriculture expert Madan Pariyar. Officials later said Mishra was dropped amid an investigation by the anti-graft agency and four ministers were sworn in, bringing the cabinet’s total to eight, including Karki and three ministers she named earlier. Those retained from the first round are Rameshwor Khanal as finance minister, Kulman Ghising as minister for energy and...