KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is reshuffling his cabinet within a week.

The taskforce formed to resolve the long-standing intra-party feud of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has paved the way for Prime Minister Oli to reshuffle the cabinet to effectively executive the government activities before the Standing Committee (SC) meeting.

According to sources, the SC meeting is likely to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The report of the taskforce has suggested to call a Central Committee meeting in mid-October for the preparation of the general convention of the party.

With the Secretariat meeting’s decision on Thursday evening to take party’s Vice Chairman to the National Assembly ended the possibility of Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwa to continuity as the minister.

With this decision, two ministerial portfolios – the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology – are becoming vacant.

The Constitution of Nepal has laid down limitations not to appoint more than 25 including ministers, state ministers and assistant ministers. Only 22 ministers are now remaining following the resignation by Khatiwada.

With this, there are not more three vacant portfolios in the cabinet – the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and the Ministry of Urban Development.