Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stalled the plan to change the ministers in his government despite one of his coalition partner’s suggestions to that end.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) on Sunday had decided to replace four of its ministers.

The decision, however, ran into controversy with those being recalled objecting to the party’s leadership’s decision.

Sources said Prime Minister Deuba refused to replace the ministers as suggested by the Unified Socialist after holding discussions with the coalition partners.

“Reshuffling the Cabinet when the ministers are discussing the budget at the Parliament is unheard of anywhere in the world,” said Birodh Khatiwada, minister for health and population earlier in the afternoon. “I will be attending the Cabinet meeting later today.”

A meeting of the Prime Minister and Congress President Deuba, Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Unified Socialist chair Madhav Nepal and Janata Samajbadi Party chair Upendra Yadav on Monday morning discussed the Unified Socialist’s decision to recall its ministers. The coalition’s fifth partner, Rastriya Janamorcha has no share in the Deuba-led Cabinet.

According to sources, the leadership was concerned if there would be pressure for changing ministers from other constituents also if the Unified Socialist ministers were changed at this time.

“We suggested that the Cabinet reshuffle be stalled for now,” said Upendra Yadav, chair of Janata Samajbadi Party. “How can ministers be changed when the budget is yet to be endorsed by the Parliament?”

Asked when the Cabinet will be reshuffled, Yadav said, “It will happen when the prime minister wants. It’s up to him.”

On Sunday, the Unified Socialist decided to recommend Jeevan Ram Shrestha as minister for tourism, culture and civil aviation replacing Prem Ale; Metmani Chaudhary as minister for urban development replacing Ram Kumari Jhakri, Sher Bahadur Kunwar as minister for labour and employment in place of Krishna Kumar Shrestha, and Bhawani Prasad Khapung as minister for health and population in place of Khatiwada. Khapung is currently serving as state minister for health.

The party had also recommended Hira Chandra KC as minister of state for health and population.

The Unified Socialist decision on changing ministers may look like it has come all of a sudden, but talks have been going on for quite a while about the Cabinet reshuffle.

Insiders say there could be changes in some key ministries like finance and home.

Some have argued against reshuffling the Cabinet just ahead of general and provincial elections. Deuba has expressed his intentions to hold general elections by the end of November.