Kathmandu, Sep 2 - The rift in Nepal over the use of Hindi for official work continued to widen Wednesday with new ministers from a regional party taking their oath of office in that language as Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expanded his cabinet for the sixth time.

Already accommodating 33 ministers, the coalition government, which includes 22 parties, Wednesday added nine more - two ministers, six ministers of state and an assistant minister.

Watched by President Ram Baran Yadav, the prime minister administered the oath of office and secrecy to two new entrants first, both of whom are from Terai parties that have been championing the use of Hindi for official work.

Laxman Lal Karna, a veteran politician from the Sadbhavana Party, who was sworn in without being allocated any ministry, took his oath in Hindi, saying it was his mother tongue. So did his party colleague Saroj Kumar Yadav, who was later sworn in as minister of state for commerce and supplies.

Sarbadeb Ojha, who was appointed minister for women, children and social welfare in a bid to pacify his Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) party that split from the Forum this year after a bitter dispute about joining the government, wanted to take his oath in his mother tongue Awadhi.

However, since arrangements had not been made for that, he had to take the oath in Nepali.

In a second ceremony, Nepal inducted seven more ministers, most of whom are from Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik).

They are Shatrughana Prasad Singh Kohiri (minister of state culture and tourism), Sanjay Kumar Sah (physical planning and works), Karina Begum (agriculture and cooperatives), Ram Bachan Yadav (women, children and social welfare), and Kalawati Dushad (assistant minister, physical planning and works ministry).