The CPN (Maoist Centre) has removed Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Aman Lal Modi from the ministerial position on Sunday to create a space for a minister from Janamat Party.

An office bearers’ meeting of the ruling Maoist party decided to recall Modi from the government to bring the CK Raut-led regional party in the Cabinet.

“The meeting of the party’s office bearers and our party’s ministers have decided to recall minister Modi from the Cabinet,” Dinanath Sharma, secretary of CPN (Maoist Centre), told the Post following the meeting. “The meeting appreciated the spirit of Modi, who willingly supported the prime minister by paving the way for another person in the position.”

Sharma said the meeting decided to thank Modi for his contribution to the government and the prime minister will now send the name of the new minister to the President’s office.

“The President will administer the oath of office to the new minister Anita Devi Sah of Janamat Party at the earliest,” said Sharma.

This will be the eleventh reshuffle in Dahal’s Cabinet since the Maoist chief became prime minister on December 25 last year.

Janamat will be joining the government for the second time. Earlier, the party’s Abdul Khan had been appointed minister of water supply in the last week of January. He, however, stepped down within two months after his party expressed dissatisfaction with the prime minister, saying that it was not given the ministries that it demanded. The party, however, hadn’t withdrawn its support to the government.

Janamat leaders said they are not rigid about the ministry this time and they would accept whichever ministry the prime minister offers them.

The Janamat Party had recommended Sah as a minister more than three weeks ago. The reshuffle was postponed as Dahal was in mourning following his wife’s demise.

Dahal had met various ministers, including Modi and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati, in a bid to convince them to resign in order to make way for a new Janamat party minister.