KATHMANDU: Amid speculations of a cabinet reshuffle on the basis of consensus between Prime Minister KP Oli and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, a meeting between the two could not make any headway on the issue.
Party sources said while PM Oli is in favor of a cabinet reshuffle by inducting at least six new faces in the cabinet, NCP Supremo Dahal wants some incumbent ministers to be removed and replaced by new faces.
The two heavyweights discussed the issue – widely speculated cabinet reshuffle — on Sunday and Monday.
Oli and Dahal, however, will continue to discuss the issue, a leader close to Baluwatar said adding that PM Oli wants to split the ministries and appoint ministers accordingly.
Interestingly, Dahal has been insisting on bringing on-board NCP Vice-Chairman Bam Dev Gautam with the responsibility of handling a ministry. However, it should be noted that Gautam’s appointment to the National Assembly is sub-judice at the Supreme Court (SC).
During the meeting between PM Oli and Dahal, the latter also brought the issue of the number of ministries that the erstwhile Maoists should get.
Sources said Dahal insisted that the erstwhile Maoist party should get at least 10 ministries from the current seven if the number of ministries is to be increased.
According to the source, there will be a cabinet reshuffle “anytime soon” if PM Oli agreed to induct some ministers from the erstwhile Maoist party by discharging some ministers of their responsibilities.
Monday’s meeting between the two top brass is also learned to have focused on preparing agendas for the meeting of the party Secretariat besides criteria for cabinet reformation.
The two heavyweights 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 the 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 source.
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