Prime Minister (PM) and CPN Chairman KP Sharma Oli has accused his rivals in the ruling party of trying to dislodge Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada under influence of businessmen.
A party source claimed that the plan to bring CPN Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam to the National Assembly was made to remove the finance minister. "You all discuss outside and come here to announce your decisions. How can you control even Cabinet decisions?" the source quoted Oli as saying during the secretariat meeting.
The source revealed that another Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior leaders Jhala Nath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Gautam met at Dahal's residence in Khumaltar on Tuesday.
The Oli faction has accused the leaders of conspiring to put Oli in minority and make it difficult for him to work.
Oli had told Nepal that he cannot take Gautam to the National Assembly immediately after the secretariat meeting took the decision to that regard. Oli and Nepal had held discussion after that. The party source claimed that Oli told Nepal that he cannot implement the decision taken under pressure and influence of businessmen.
"A few businessmen rattled by the finance minister's works have used Gautam," the source claimed. "Khatiwada will remain the finance minister for six months. And another thing, it has not been decided to immediately take Gautam to the National Assembly."
The two-year term of Khatiwada, who was nominated to the National Assembly on recommendation of the Cabinet, is expiring on March 4.
Oli's rivals are putting pressure on him to recommend Gautam to the vacant seat.
