KATHMANDU: Amid growing pressure over a bribery scandal involving two ministers, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has initiated urgent consultations with ruling coalition leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Upendra Yadav.
The controversy centers on Federal Affairs Minister Rajkumar Gupta and Land Management Minister Balram Adhikari, who have been accused of involvement in a Rs 7.8 million bribery case. With criticism mounting from both the opposition and the public, PM Oli held talks Monday evening following a cabinet meeting.
According to sources, Oli is considering a major cabinet reshuffle. He is expected to consult Deuba, president of the Nepali Congress, about replacing the tainted ministers and potentially forming a new team of ministers from their respective parties.
The bribery scandal comes on the heels of another controversy involving Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in a visa-related issue, putting Oli under mounting pressure. With increasing calls for the dismissal of the accused ministers, Oli is reportedly weighing the option of replacing all ministers from the coalition partners.
Oli’s outreach also extends to Upendra Yadav, chair of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), which, although part of the seven-party coalition, has not formally joined the government. Yadav had earlier threatened to withdraw support but hasn’t done so officially.
Sources indicate that Oli and Deuba are exploring options to bring JSP into the government by offering Yadav a prominent ministry. This move could help stabilize the government, especially in the National Assembly, where the ruling coalition currently lacks a majority. It may also ease the passage of key bills currently stuck in the upper house.
The push to include JSP comes as the Nagarik Unmukti Party has already withdrawn its support, leaving the coalition looking to reinforce its parliamentary strength.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal criticized the Oli government in Parliament on Monday, declaring its one-year performance a failure. Oli is also said to be reviewing the government’s work with Deuba as part of broader discussions on cabinet changes.
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