PM to reshuffle cabinet

KATHMANDU, March 23: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is making preparations to reshuffle his cabinet for the fifth time, sending a clear message that he does not intend to step down anytime soon despite growing call for his resignation from the Mohan Baidya faction of his own party.



"The reshuffling of the cabinet is on card. We expect it to happen in a few days," said a Baluwatar source, seeking anonymity. [break]



The source informed that the prime minister is going to appoint new ministers at the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) and at the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM). Some ministers who have courted public controversies due to corruption charges or misconduct in recent days are likely to be shifted to other ministries, said another source close to the prime minister.



The ministerial post at the MoIC has remained vacant since the conviction of Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta on February 21 in a corruption case.



Similarly, the ministerial portfolio at the MoLT is also going to be vacant as incumbent Minister Sarita Giri has been asked to resign.



The prime minister has already sought resignation from Giri for obstructing reforms process at the ministry. It is not yet clear whether Giri will resign, but the source said the prime minister will sack her even if she refuses to step down.

Related story

Mahaseth rules out immediate cabinet reshuffle