KathmanduNepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday sacked four ministers of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP). The JSP had quit the ruling coalition last week after joining hands with the CPN-UML for the upcoming general elections.
“On the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the President has relieved the four ministers from their duties,” the Kathmandu Post newspaper said, quoting a statement from the President’s office on Thursday evening. The four ministers sacked by the prime minister are Federal Affairs and General Administrative Affairs Minister Rajendra Shrestha, Forest and Environment Minister Pradeep Yadav, Infrastructure Minister Mohammad Istiaq Rai and Agriculture and Cattle Minister Mrigendra Kumar Singh.
Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba dismisses 4 ministers representing Janata Samajbadi Party from cabinet: President Office
Deuba made the decision after Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) made alliance with opposition for upcoming elections. The vacant ministries now will fall under Deuba pic.twitter.com/Dw2UaJE4uv
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2022
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According to the Election Commission’s code of conduct, the chances of the Prime Minister appointing new ministers are slim even after these ministers have been sacked. According to the Election Commission, new appointments in the cabinet will be in violation of the election code of conduct. Significantly, the JSP leaders had argued that they had not left the government, just joined hands with the UML for elections in some seats.
According to the newspaper, Prime Minister Deuba discussed the issue with CPN (Maoist Central), CPN (United Socialists) and Rashtriya Jan Morcha. According to reports, Deuba was intent on sacking the ministers, but there was no consensus among the coalition partners. Some leaders had even advised ministers to be made ministers without portfolios by simply relieving them of their duties. Elections to the federal parliament and provincial assemblies in Nepal are due on November 20. (agency)