Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expanded his cabinet today as thousands of Maoist supporters gathered in the capital for a mass protest against the coalition government. The Prime Minister administered the oath of office and secrecy to two ministers from the Terai Madhes Democratic Party,a group with support mainly in Nepals southern plains bordering India. With the induction of Govind Chaudhary as Minister of State for Education and Chanda Chaudary as Minister for Sports the total members in the cabinet went up to 44,The Himalayan Times online reported. This is Prime Minister Nepals eighth expansion of the cabinet amid growing pressure from the Maoists to step down. Thousands of supporters of the former rebels gathered her today to protest against the 22-party coalition government. They marched through the heart of the capital chanting anti-government slogans,witnesses said. The Maoists have stepped up pressure on the government by blocking the Parliament and organising protest rallies since Prachanda resigned on May 4 after dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav over the reinstated of former army chief General Rukmangad Katawal. I have come here to protest because this government is functioning illegally, a protester was quoted as saying in the media. Prachanda had blamed the Gen Katawal for trying to resist the integration of former rebels into the military as stipulated under the 2006 peace agreement The political standoff has put new stresses on Nepals reconciliation efforts after the end of the decade-long insurgency in 2006,amid fears that the stalled peace process may be derailed if the Maoists agitation is not ended soon. The Maoists,who waged a decade-long insurgency,joined mainstream politics after a 2006 peace deal with the interim government led by G. P. Koirala. UCPN-Maoist formed Nepals first post-royal government on August 22 after the former rebels emerged as the largest party in the April 10 constituent assembly polls last year. The ultra left party was also instrumental in the abolition of the countrys unpopular 240-year-old monarchy.
