Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has dismissed four ministers representing the Janata Samajbadi Party from their posts ahead of the elections on Thursday.

PM Deuba has made this move after consulting with the chief election commissioner, legal experts and leaders of the ruling coalition, before laying off the ministers representing the Janata Samajbadi Party that joined hands with the CPN-UML for the upcoming polls.

In accordance with Article 77 (2. b) of the Constitution of Nepal, PM Deuba relieved the Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Rajendra Prasad Shrestha; Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Mrigendra Kumar Singh; Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport, Istiyak Raye; and Minister for Forest and Environment, Pradip Yadav.

According to the President’s Office, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has assigned PM Deuba to look after the vacant posts. President Bhandari has consulted with the PM about the additional responsibility as per his own recommendation.

Similarly, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, has been given the responsibility to look after the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.