PM secures party nod for cabinet reshuffle

KATHMANDU, Nov 18: The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Sunday gave its nod to the plan of Prime Minister KP Oli to reshuffle the cabinet. 

For a few months now, Prime Minister Oli has been planning to oust some ministers and replace them with the party’s dissident leaders following widespread criticism of the government’s poor performance. 

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“The secretariat meeting has given its nod to the prime minister after he shared his plan for a major reshuffle of his cabinet,” said an NCP secretariat member.  “The prime minister has indicated that he may take the decision by Monday or within a few days.”

However, the meeting didn’t discuss the names of the leaders to be ousted and replaced, according to NCP leaders. Party leaders have suggested the prime minister, who is also the chairperson of the party, accommodate all factions in the party while inducting new ministers, said a leader. 

Prime Minister Oli also briefed the party leaders that his health has become normal following Saturday’s kidney dialysis, said the source. The leader said that prime minister has indicated at the meeting that he would visit abroad for further treatment if needed after reshuffling the cabinet. 

The secretariat meeting of the NCP has also decided to form the party’s overseas chapter for establishing contact and coordination with Nepali diasporas and to advocate for their issues and rights. Lawmaker Binda Pandey has been appointed in-charge of the Committee to Coordinate with Nepalis Domiciled Abroad while Yubaraj Chaulagain has been appointed chair of the committee. Pandey represents the former UML while Chaulagain represents the former Maoists.