KATHMANDU, July 17: As Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government enters its second year, speculation over a Cabinet reshuffle has sparked anxiety among ministers. When forming his Cabinet a year ago, PM Oli had indicated that appointments would initially be for just one year. That remark has left many ministers uncertain about their future.
Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, recalling the Prime Minister’s earlier statement, said a reshuffle is part of normal government practice. “During the oath-taking, the Prime Minister had mentioned that appointments were for one year,” Gurung said at a press conference on Wednesday at Singha Durbar. His comment has fueled speculation within the government about possible imminent changes.
According to Minister Gurung, PM Oli is preparing to restructure the Cabinet in line with his commitment from a year ago. However, any changes will require consensus with the Nepali Congress (NC), the ruling coalition partner. “A Cabinet reshuffle cannot be decided solely by the CPN-UML or the Prime Minister. Agreement from the NC is necessary. Therefore, it’s not a straightforward matter,” a source from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.
PM rules out immediate cabinet reshuffle
Insiders say PM Oli wants to replace ministers who have failed to perform or have been mired in controversy. “The Prime Minister intends to make changes to improve the Cabinet’s effectiveness,” the source added. Oli had appointed a 22-member Cabinet on July 14 last year, a day after assuming office.
While it remains unclear who will be removed or retained, discussions with NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba are reportedly underway. According to sources close to Oli, preparations are focused on replacing underperforming UML ministers. “The Prime Minister knows who has fallen short — others may not,” one source remarked.
Ram Sharan Bajagain, Press Expert to the Prime Minister, has also hinted at upcoming changes. “A reshuffle is likely. Discussions with coalition partners will take place soon,” he said.
Several individuals with close ties to PM Oli — who also chairs the UML — have already secured ministerial positions. Oli had earlier warned that ministers failing to deliver even within the first 100 days would face replacement.
Currently, UML ministers include Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Pant, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Bhagawati Neupane, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari, Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Balram Adhikari, Defense Minister Manbir Rai, and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal. Among them, Paudel, Gurung, and Rai are considered more likely to retain their positions. Minister Adhikari, however, faces controversy.
From the NC side, ministers include Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakashman Singh, Home Affairs Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Foreign Affairs Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, Forest and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Pandey, Health and Population Minister Pradeep Poudel, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Dipak Khadka, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Ramnath Adhikari, and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya. Additionally, from the Ashok Rai-led faction of the JSP, Pradeep Yadav and Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi are serving as ministers.