Kathmandu, Nepal, September 29, 2020: The leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), particularly the chairmen duo Pushpa Kamal Dahal and KP Sharma Oli, who is also the Prime Minister, have intensified internal parleys to reshuffle the cabinet.
There was a speculation that cabinet will be reshuffled by Monday evening. But, it could not happen after they failed to reach on the conclusion not only over the issue of modality to reshuffle the cabinet but also to pick the leaders to appoint as ministers from the different rival factions.
The cabinet reshuffle issue is taken importantly from different sectors as it has begun just days after the ruling NCP had restored peace after months long wrangling over the issue of division of power and positions both in party and the government.
Insiders and analysts of the party have casted a doubt that the discussions on Cabinet reshuffle would revitalize the months-long conflict guided by the factional interests rather than system and procedures.
The months-long stand-off in the party was managed with the power sharing deal including a Cabinet reshuffle. The ruling NCP had reached near to the vertical split after Dahal led dissident faction exerted pressure to Oli demanding his resignation both as party chair and prime minister.
Differences on division of posts in the party were managed by separating powers among the two chairmen. As per the deal, Dahal was fully authorized to run the party affairs as executive chairman while another chair Oli was authorized to concentrate in the government affair.
It is said that discussions are underway to divide various pots including the ambassadorial and constitutional posts among the rival factions of the party. Both the chairmen are making their pitch for having their choice in some influential positions including the ministers.
According to a source, the differences over the issue of cabinet reshuffle is now centered on number of cabinet ministers, division of ministerial posts among the rival factions and whether to repeating some ministers or to change whole.
Prime Minister Oli is demanding for repeating some ministers with their portfolios changed while Dahal is demanding for change all the ministers to give chance to the new one, claims the source.
