Ashok Rai-led Janata Samajbadi Party is preparing to leave the Oli government. Despite repeated requests to reshuffle ministers, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has shown no interest, prompting Rai to prepare to exit the government. Rai had given a deadline of Bhadra 11 (August 27) through a party meeting for the ministers to be recalled, but even by today, the 12th, Oli has shown no concern.

The largest ruling party, the Nepali Congress, has also not taken interest in reshuffling its ministers, which has prevented Oli from reorganizing his cabinet. Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, whose ministers are on the waiting list for reshuffle, has refused to replace them, putting Oli in a difficult position. Although Oli is ready to recall his own party’s ministers, the Congress is not agreeing. As a result, Rai’s JSP has also been unable to reshuffle its ministers. Rai has therefore decided to withdraw his party from the government, stating that Oli ignored the names he had already submitted for replacement. Rai is currently outside Kathmandu but is expected to return today.

Earlier, through a party meeting, Rai had decided to recall two ministers from his party currently in the government—Pradeep Yadav and Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi—and replace them with Dr. Birendra Prasad Mahato and Ranjoo Jha. He had already submitted the names to Baluwatar. However, Deuba does not want to replace Foreign Minister Arzu Rana and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. Former office bearers in the party have also been lobbying to retain Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakash Man Singh. Deuba fears that removing Singh would disturb the internal power balance within the party. Likewise, without the consent of General Secretary Gagan Thapa, Deuba is also unwilling to replace Health Minister Pradeep Paudel, who was appointed from Thapa’s camp. Deuba believes removing only four ministers would send the wrong message, so he has taken a firm stance against a cabinet reshuffle. Because of this, Oli has been unable to reorganize the council of ministers.

Questions have been raised over the so-called “strong government” formed by the coalition of the two largest parties, since it has failed to deliver governance reforms. Corruption scandals and disputes involving ministers have further damaged the government’s reputation. From LSP, senior leader Sharad Singh Bhandari is serving as Labor Minister, but his own party has also urged his removal.

The Oli-led government, backed by Congress, UML, and six smaller parties, was formed on Ashadh 31, 2081 BS (mid-July 2024). At that time, Oli had stated that ministers would be appointed only for one year and instructed them to perform well. The government has now completed 13 months.