King Gyanendra gave no sign of stepping down as Nepal’s executive head as he effected massive changes in the 9-month old council of ministers. The new three-tier ministry will have 35 members, 14 of cabinet rank, six ministers of state and 14 assistant ministers.The King retained both deputy chairpersons, Tulsi Giri and Kirtinidhi Bista, but divested them of their portfolios. Giri retains Water Resources while Bista is without any ministry.Home’s Dan Bahadur Shahi and Finance minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana were axed. Also dropped were Jagat Gauchan, convicted on a murder charge, and Senate Shrestha who’s under a corruption cloud.Although the King failed to woo any one from the seven pro-democracy parties agitating for restoration of ‘full democracy’, he was able to maul the two parties which have so far not turned against the constitutional monarchy but have reservations over the manner in which he took charge last February 1.Buddhiman Tamang of Rashtriya Janashakti Party, headed by former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, and Kamal Thapa of Rashtriya Prajatantra Party have been included as Industries and Home ministers respectively. Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pande, who enjoyed number 3 status, has been relegated to the fifth position. Narayan Singh Pun, who brought Maoists to the table in January 2003, has been made Minister for Land Reforms.
