KATHMANDU: Despite several rounds of one-on-one consultations, Prime Minister KP Oli and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” are still at loggerheads on the criteria of cabinet reshuffle.

PM Oli and Chairman Dahal are endeavoring to reach a consensus on the criteria for replacing ministers, party sources said.

“The two leaders are engaged in serious discussion on the issue,” a party Standing Committee leader said adding, “However, they are still divided on the criteria of retaining or replacing the cabinet members.”

Despite the fact that both Oli and Dahal have agreed to reshuffle the cabinet, the latter wants the entire team to be changed while PM Oli is in favor of retaining some ministers, whom he considers “close and supportive” to him.

“PM Oli wants some ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel, Energy Minister Barsa Man Pun, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali,” the source said.

Dahal, meanwhile, is adamant to his stance of replacing all ministers.

Prime Minister Oli is also preparing to fill the vacant ministries such as Ministry of Finance, Communication Ministry and Urban Development Ministry arguing that he as the Prime Minister has all the right to replace or retain the ministers.

The source further said that PM Oli is of the view that since he has given the responsibility to Dahal to oversee the party to Dahal, he, too, should have the right to look after the government.

Prime Minister Oli wants to split the existing ministries.

Earlier, the party’s 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.