Speaking at a programme of Youth Association Nepal, party’s youth wing, in the Capital on Sunday, Chairman Oli said that Acharya and Thapa were not removed because of any prejudice. “They said that they wanted to resign as they could not work,” said Oli, “So, we sent new ministers without asking for resignation.”

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had reshuffled Cabinet on Friday as per the recommendation of its coalition ally CPN-UML. Deepak Chandra Amatya had been appointed as the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation while Mahesh Basnet was appointed as Industry Minister.

Earlier, Bhim Prasad Acharya was the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation while Karna Bahadur Thapa was looking after the Industry Minister portfolio.

In a different context, Oli expressed dissatisfaction over leader Madhav Kumar Nepal’s remark that factionalism still existed in the party. Leader Nepal was defeated in the leadership race of UML in the ninth General Convention of the party.