On Sunday, when the CPN (Unified Socialist), one of the partners in the ruling coalition, suddenly decided to recall four of its ministers with a view to sending a new set of leaders to replace them, it was expected to set in motion a Cabinet reshuffle, with more changes of ministerial portfolios. However, until Sunday night, it looked like Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba might not implement the Unified Socialist’s decision immediately.

On Monday, Deuba refused to change the ministers as recommended by the Unified Socialist, in what seems to be a setback for its chair Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Sources say changing some ministers from the Unified Socialist would have created pressure on Deuba for a major Cabinet reshuffle, which stopped him from implementing Nepal’s decision.

And there were concerns if changing ministers at a time when the budget is being discussed in Parliament could have sent a good message.

Deuba, also the Nepali Congress president, consulted CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Nepal and Janata Samajbadi Party chair Upendra Yadav on Monday morning.

“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 Parliament?”

Yadav’s position against a Cabinet rejig, however, stems from pressure he is facing from some of his lawmakers for ministerial berths.

Some lawmakers had already started asking Yadav to recall the ministers and send them to the Cabinet as he had earlier told them that a new set of leaders would be made ministers “after six months.”

Formed in mid-July, Deuba had given full shape to his government three months later. Four ministers each from the Unified Socialist and Janata Samajbadi were appointed in the first week of October.

“Our chairman had told us that the existing set of ministers would be replaced after six months,” said Pradip Yadav, one of the lawmakers of the Janata Samajbadi who is aspiring for a ministerial portfolio. “We have reminded the party chair of his words. Let’s see when he decides to replace ministers.”

On Sunday, the Unified Socialist decided to recommend Jeevan Ram Shrestha as minister for tourism, culture and civil aviation to replace Prem Ale; Metmani Chaudhary as minister for urban development to replace 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 to replace Birodh Khatiwada. Khapung is currently serving as state minister for health. The party also recommended Hira Chandra KC as minister of state for health and population.

The incumbent ministers, however, complained that they were not taken into confidence before the decision was taken.

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

After the decision was not implemented, Khatiwada did attend the Cabinet meeting.

It was not immediately clear why Madhav Nepal made the abrupt decision to replace his party’s ministerial line-up.

Senior leader of the party Jhalanath Khanal said the leadership should take the responsibility of implementing the party’s decisions.

“It’s a surprising act in Nepali politics. One of the coalition partners takes a decision and the coalition refuses to implement it,” Khanal told the Post. “Our leadership should take the responsibility and the decision must be implemented.”

Khanal said the issue will be raised in the party meeting.

“Our party doesn’t function along the lines of what the coalition says,” said Khanal. “Our’s is a sovereign and independent party.”

Many say Deuba may have nixed Unified Socialist’s proposal to change the ministers also to offset pressure he was feeling within his party to reshuffle the Cabinet.

Nepali Congress general secretary and lawmaker Gagan Thapa said on Monday that there are demands within his party to induct new faces into the Cabinet although formal discussions are yet to happen.

“Those who have served as ministers are demanding that they be given a chance to show their performance,” Thapa, also a former minister, told reporters after the House meeting. “It’s up to the Parliamentary Party [Deuba] leader to decide as there is a short time remaining for this government to spend in office.”

Thapa said lawmakers have been complaining that the same leaders are repeated every time the Congress forms the government or joins a coalition.

Some Congress leaders said it’s up to Madhav Nepal how he deals with his party members after the prime minister refused to change the ministers as recommended by him.

“It’s up to the leaders of the Unified Socialist; the Congress has nothing to comment on it,” said a senior Congress leader who wished to remain anonymous.

Now that Unified Socialist ministers have been given continuity, a dispute is set to arise in the party, and if the problem continues, it could affect the coalition. Party chair Madhav Nepal has already expressed displeasure at the coalition after the party’s poor performance in the local polls. Another party that is not happy with the local poll performance is Janata Samajbadi.

The coalition’s fifth partner, Rastriya Janamorcha, has no share in the Deuba-led Cabinet.

As the country prepares for general elections, due later this year, Deuba is in a bid to protect the coalition so as to keep the main opposition CPN-UML in check. He fears a possible left alliance of the UML, the Maoist Centre and Unified Socialist. The Maoist Centre, which seems happy with its poll performance, does not look too keen on joining hands with the UML.

Some say the dispute in the Unified Socialist, however, may trigger a new chain of events.

Deuba, meanwhile, is weighing various options as he intends to conduct the general elections by November-end.

According to coalition party leaders, Deuba and Dahal have said that the Cabinet could be reshuffled after the budget is endorsed by Parliament.

Deuba is also making attempts to rope in the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party to the government by offering deputy Speaker and at least two ministers to the party.

According to leaders, the ongoing meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee is discussing whether to join the government.

“We are ready to join the government but we need at least three ministers,” said a Central Executive Committee member of the party asking not to be named. “Why would we need the deputy Speaker’s position when the House is set to complete its term?”

The party is preparing to hand over a memorandum to the prime minister on Tuesday with a set of demands it wants to be met by the government.

“We have not received any proposal from the government yet,” said Keshav Jha, a Loktantrik Samajbadi leader. “But the prime minister seems ready to address our demands.”