Kathmandu (PTI): Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala on bagged the plump post of Foreign Minister in the much-awaited Cabinet expansion by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, nearly two weeks after the CPN(UML)-led coalition government eased out the Maoists from power.

Apart from Ms. Sujata Koirala, the daughter of Nepali Congress President and former premier Girija Prasad Koirala, five NC leaders made ministers were Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minendra Rijal, Balkrishna Khand, Purna Kumar Sherma and Umakanta Chaudhari, according to sources close to the Prime Minister.

However they have not been allocated portfolios.

The Prime Minister also administered oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers at the President's Office at Sheetal Niwas in the presence of President Ram Baran Yadav.

Madhesi People's Rights Forum leader Bijaya Gachchhadar was made Deputy Prime Minister. He will also hold the portfolio of Physical Planning and Works.

Dambar Shrestha has been appointed minister without portfolio from CPN(ML). However, no portfolio has been given to five other ministers from Nepali Congress as no decision could be made in this matter.

Although MPRF has claimed five cabinet rank ministers and four state ministers, the party's Parliamentary Party could not give the name of ministers except Gachchhadar, who is also the leader of Parliamentary Party, due to serious differences over ministerial candidates.

As the CPN(UML) Standing committee meeting held on Thursday to suggest names of the new ministers concluded inconclusively the party has decided to suggest the list of ministers at a later date.

There are only two ministers, Defence Minister Vidya Bhandari and Finance Minister Surendra Pandey representing the main ruling party in the cabinet.

In Nepali Congress too, senior leaders including acting president Shushil Koirala, Vice Presidents Ramchandra Poudyal and general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi have opposed the name of 54-year-old Sujata as the leader of the party's ministerial team to the cabinet.

Mr. Nepal was sworn in on May 25 following Maoist chief Prachanda's resignation from the top post over the controversial issue of sacking of Army chief Gen. Rukmangad Katawal.