Nepal, Aug. 3 -- Six days after the appointment of a new chief minister in Karnali Province, the provincial government is still without a full Cabinet as coalition partners remain locked in a power-sharing dispute over ministerial portfolios.

The deadlock between the ruling coalition partners over the number of ministers and the allocation of ministries has delayed the expansion of the seven-member Cabinet, including the chief minister.

Karnali Province Chief Yagya Raj Joshi appointed Mangal Bahadur Shahi as chief minister on Tuesday. He was sworn in the following day under Article 168(2) of the Constitution and assumed office immediately afterward.

However, despite taking charge, Shahi has been unable to expand his Cabinet as negotia...