Cabinet reshuffle in the offing

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is going to reshuffle the cabinet after the third week of June. Prachanda has already discussed cabinet reshuffle with the coalition partners. The Prime Minister is going to reorganize the cabinet by including the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) and the Janamat Party (JP).

"The president is not in the country now. The prime minister is thinking of reorganizing the cabinet immediately after his return", a close aide of the Prime Minister said. "Reshuffling may take place in the third week of June, after June 21.'

Currently, the government consists of UML, Maoists, Unified Socialist Party and Janata Samajwadi Party led by Ashok Rai. Sources close to the prime minister have said that preparations are being made to vacate the ministry by removing some of the current ministers in the next cabinet reshuffle and induct new ones.

One minister each from Maoist Center and UML will have to be withdrawn. It is understood that when the Prime Minister discussed with UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, latter agreed on cabinet reshuffle only after the budget is passed from the Parliament.