Cabinet reshuffle on hold as heavyweights stick to their guns

KATHMANDU: The much-awaited cabinet reformation has been on hold after Prime Minister KP Oli and Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal are sharply dividied over the criteria of cabinet reshuffle.

The meeting between the two heavyweights scheduled for today was also postponed after they did not budge away from their stances on portfolio sharing.

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.

“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,” said the source.

According to Baluwatar soruces, PM Oli wants to retain some ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel, Energy Minister Barsa Man Pun, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali

On the contrary, Dahal, is adamant to his stance of replacing all ministers.

Prime Minister Oli is also preparing to fill in  the vacant ministries such as Ministry of Finance, Communication Ministry and Urban Development Ministry arguing that 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, 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.