Amid growing calls for his resignation over a bribery scandal, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta, a CPN-UML leader, attended the Cabinet meeting on Monday evening. Gupta's name surfaced in a leaked audio allegedly linking him to bribery discussions involving appointments in Kaski district. He allegedly sought Rs7.8 million for a political appointment, and the transfer of a civil servant in Kaski district. The audio release has triggered major political backlash against Gupta, but he has not been able to defend himself.

“It was expected that either Gupta would tender his resignation or Prime Minister KP Oli would sack him, but nothing happened,” said a minister.

“Neither any minister raised the issue, nor did he himself bring it up,” the minister told the Post. “So nothing happened in the meeting regarding the controversy.”

Earlier on Monday morning, Prime Minister Oli summoned Minister Gupta and sought details about his involvement in the audio. “Gupta gave his clarification, and the prime minister listened,” the minister said. “Now it is up to the prime minister to take a call on Gupta.”

After the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Oli held talks with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav and discussed a possible political arrangement, as Yadav has threatened to withdraw support to the government.

Yadav is looking for a larger political deal with Oli and Deuba, said a political source, adding Yadav is looking for either the post of deputy prime minister or the leadership of the government in the Madhesh province.

The ruling parties are also trying to retain the Nagarik Unmukti Party into the government, although the party has decided to quit the caolition. If a political deal is reached, a Cabinet reshuffle within a few days is possible, according to ruling party leaders.

The chief minister in Madhesh is from the Janamat Party led by CK Raut. Yadav had lost the last elections to Raut in Saptari district, so they remain archrivals in Madhesh politics.

As Prime Minister Oli intends to reshuffle his Cabinet to bring the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal into the government, Oli and Deuba again urged Yadav on Monday to join, said Raj Kishor Yadav, who was part of the meeting, told the Post.

“We placed our reservations before Oli, we shared our grievances, and spoke about steps towards improving the governance,” said Yadav. “If our demands are met, we will join the government. We have communicated that we will get back to them after discussing the issue within the party.”

Prime Minister Oli is under pressure from his own party, the ruling partner Nepali Congress, and opposition parties to remove Gupta. Questions are also being raised against Minister for Land Management and Cooperatives Balaram Adhikari, who is also from the UML.

Addressing Parliament on Monday, Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal accused the government of serving the interests of middlemen and shielding corruption.

“Mr prime minister, your ministers are openly making deals worth millions in connection with transfers and appointments,” he said.

He also accused the government of promoting corruption, politicisation, and creating a system that empowers middlemen while sidelining the state’s official mechanisms.

There is also discontent inside ruling parties over the bribery scandals involving Minister Gupta and Adhikari. Adhikari has been indirectly linked to the transfer of a civil servant in Kaski under his ministry.

Addressing a party function, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa also urged the immediate dismissal of Minister Gupta.

Thapa stated that if a sitting minister had not committed any wrongdoing, they should immediately resign and request an investigation.

“He doesn’t even have the courage to claim he’s innocent. I had expected the prime minister to immediately dismiss the minister. I thought it wouldn’t even be necessary to comment on this,” said Thapa. “But now I find it necessary to speak. I request the prime minister, please dismiss your minister immediately.”

Thapa also said that dismissing the minister alone would not be enough. “Now that this much has come out, the truth must come to light. A thorough investigation is needed,” he said. “Who else is involved? If there are others, it’s too early to comment on them right now. But if anyone is found guilty during the investigation, they must be punished.”

Rajendra Gautam, head of publicity department of CPN-UML, said that Prime Minister Oli would take immediate action against Gupta.

He mentioned that they had already drawn the prime minister's attention to the matter, and that Oli had also met with Minister Gupta to discuss it.

During the question-answer session in Parliament, CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Madhav Sapkota raised questions regarding Minister Adhikari.

In response, Minister Adhikari challenged anyone to present facts if he or his ministry had any involvement in the selection of [Kaski land] commission members or in any related dealings.

“I’ve said this before as well,” he said, “if it’s found that I, my ministry, or anyone associated with me has been involved in any such dealings regarding the commission or its members, then please bring forth the truth. We are ready to face legal action for that.”