Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokharel has ruled out the possibility of leadership change, stating that there was no alternative to the present leadership.

Talking to media persons at Biratnagar airport this evening, DPM Pokharel asserted that the present Prime Minister was elected through established practice and there was no discussion on change in the Prime Ministerial role within the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Pokharel, also the Minister for Defense, urged the leaders and cadres within the party not to go by such rumor and misleading news the current Prime Minister would be replaced by someone else in the party.

Stating that the incumbent government was in a comfortable position, the DPM clarified that the NCP secretariat had recommended NCP Vice-Chairperson Bam Dev Gautam for the National Assembly member as per the standard procedure but its implementation was due and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli did not utter any word against it as reported in media. He assured that the constitutional amendment would be considered as per the prevailing practice, experience and importance rather than to make headway for electing someone as a Prime Minister.

He, however, said efforts were being made within the NCP to create disputes. He also assured that all the conspiracies aimed at creating instability in the country would be staved off. As for the white paper on the Nepal Trust, the DPM clarified that it did not intend to ridicule anyone and the information relating to the properties owned by the Trust as disclosed in the best interest of the public. The DPM, however, pledged to correct some wrongfully presented dates in the white paper