Kathmandu, Nepal June 7, 2022: CPN (Unified Socialist)’s abrupt decision to replace its ministers is stalled by the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Prime Minister Deuba rejected the proposal made by the party’s chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal on Monday.
Following the party’s decision on Sunday, Chairman Nepal recommended names of four ministers- Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Metmani Chaudhary, Sher Bahadur Kunwar and Hira KC replacing Birodh Khatiwada, Ram Kumari Jhakri, Krishna Kumar Shrestha and Prem Bahadur Ale.
The party had recommend Shrestha as minister for tourism, culture and civil aviation replacing Ale, Chaudhary as minister for urban development replacing Jhakri, Kunwar as minister for labor and employment replacing Shrestha and Khapung as minister for health and population replacing Khatiwada.
Prime Minister Deuba, who is also the president of the ruling head Nepali Congress, rejected the proposal stating that removal of ministers from a party at the time when discussions are underway about the budget in the parliament would pose challenge to the government even to pass the budget.
As ministers yet to answer the budgetary questions related to the concerned ministries raised by the lawmakers in the ongoing meeting of the parliament, the new ministers would not be able to give satisfactory answers if the cabinet was reshuffled before passing the budget, Prime Minister Deuba said to prove his stand to stall the decision.
Prime Minister Deuba held a discussion with the ruling partners leaders namely as Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Unified Socialist chair Madhav Nepal and Janata Samajbadi Party chair Upendra Yadav before taking the decision on Monday morning.
Some leaders from the CPN (United Socialist) including senior leader Jhalanath Khanal have, however, expressed their dissatisfaction to the Prime Minister for not reshuffling the Cabinet as per the recommendation of the party. They have a claim that party deserves the right to recall its ministers and send a new one.
The decision of the Prime Minister to stall the recommendation of the CPN (United Socialist) to change the minister has become a major setback for its chair Madhav Kumar Nepal. It is said that not only those ministers who were being recalled from the cabinet but the newly recommended ministers have been exerting pressure to the party leadership to secure their ministerial positions.
The decision has also created pressure to the Prime Minister Deuba as well for a major Cabinet reshuffle. It is said that Prime Minister Deuba intends to reshuffle the cabinet on the basis of the performance and expertise of the ministers targeting to the upcoming elections.
A source closes to the Prime Minister Deuba said preferring anonymity that he intends not only to change the ministerial portfolio of finance ministry but also induct the Mahantha Thakur-led Democratic Socialist Party-Nepal into the Cabinet. It is said that he would reshuffle the Cabinet after passing the budget from the Parliament.
