KATHMANDU, Aug 29: About one and a half months ago, the two parties in the ruling coalition sent a letter to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, urging him to reshuffle the ministers. However, this request has yet to be implemented.
PM Oli prefers to reshuffle the entire cabinet at once rather than making individual changes. For this reason, the letter sent by the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) and the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) regarding ministerial changes has been delayed. The LSP and JSP had sent the letter to the PM in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August).
LSP Chairman Mahanta Thakur met PM Oli in the first week of Shrawan and handed over the party’s letter requesting ministerial changes. The letter requested recalling Labor, Employment, and Social Security Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari and appointing Sarbendra Nath Shukla in his place. The letter bears the signature of party Chairman Thakur.
JSP recalls three ministers, sends new faces to the cabinet
“It has been about one and a half months since the party recommended ministerial changes to the PM. The PM said that the labor minister will also be changed during the cabinet reshuffle,” said LSP General Secretary Manish Mishra. “We trust that the PM will implement the party’s recommendation as soon as possible.”
According to LSP sources, after the 2022 General Election, an agreement was made that Bhandari would serve the first term as minister and Shukla the second term. However, Bhandari has already served twice as a minister, including under the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Recommending Bhandari twice consecutively angered Shukla, who had even considered splitting the party.
After Thakur consoled him, Shukla stepped back from attempting to split the party. “Thakur feels obliged and concerned to make Shukla minister as soon as possible. Therefore, Thakur is worried that the letter to the PM has not been implemented,” said an LSP leader.
LSP has four lawmakers in the House of Representatives (HoR). On August 25, the party completed five years since its formation. Even after five years, LSP has not been able to hold a general convention. The Constitution allows a six-month extension under special circumstances, which LSP is currently using. Party leaders have indicated that the convention will be held within the next six months. In its five years, LSP has already split twice: first when Rajendra Mahato left, and recently when Anil Jha parted ways.
JSP has also sent a letter to PM Oli requesting that Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav be replaced by Birendra Mahato and Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, be replaced by Ranju Thakur. JSP Chairman Ashok Rai had also sent the letter in Shrawan. “The party sent a letter to the PM in Shrawan requesting ministerial changes. We trust that the party’s recommendations will be implemented as soon as possible,” said JSP lawmaker Mahato.
Since the letters have not been implemented, both parties are pressing PM Oli to make the ministerial changes.
