PM Oli, Dahal discuss criteria prior to cabinet reformation  

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have held a meeting at Baluwatar on Monday morning.

According to sources, the meeting focused on preparing agendas for the meeting of the party Secretariat and criteria for cabinet reformation.

Two heavyweights in the meeting, which started at 11:30 am,  also dwelled on the remaining works of the party unification, said Baluwatar sources.

Earlier, the Secretariat meeting held on September 20 and the Standing Committee (SC) meeting on September 11 had discussed the criteria for the reformation of the cabinet.

As per criteria discussed in the meetings, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies would be split into the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies.

Similarly, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation will be divided into the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport will be divided into the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and the Ministry of Transport and Railway.

With this, the number of ministries will reach 24. The cabinet should not exceed more than 25 members as per the provision of the Constitution of Nepal.

Once the portfolio sharing deal is over among the parties, the agreement on the ministerial candidates will be reached, said the sources.

Oli has called a cabinet meeting today.