Nepal’s caretaker Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has made changes in his cabinet-- the second time since the dissolution of parliament - by appointing eight new ministers, including seven cabinet ministers. Now, with the new changes, the council of ministers has a total of 22 cabinet ministers and three state ministers. Significantly, this is the second time in a week that Oli made changes in the cabinet. 

Earlier on Saturday, Oli had shuffled his cabinet and appointed ten ministers from a faction of the Janata Samajwadi party. Opposition leaders had criticized the move, calling the cabinet change at a time when the house is dissolved “immoral”.  

Significantly, the cabinet rejig came at a time when parliament is already dissolved, and Oli is only a caretaking head of government. Furthermore, the house dissolution decision is itself being challenged in the country’s apex court. 

Earlier on 20 May, Nepal’s Supreme Court had struck down the appointments of seven cabinet ministers who were occupying the posts despite losing their parliamentary memberships. A day later, Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari, for the second time in the last five months, dissolved parliament.  

Experts in the country are seeing these changes directed to influence the upcoming general elections in November. Therefore, they believe the change in the cabinet at this stage is unethical.

(SAM)