Oli considering appointing acting prime minister

KATHMANDU, Nov 15: As Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s health deteriorates, he is considering appointing acting prime minister when he is away for further treatment.

A kidney patient, the 67-year-old prime minister is likely to undergo another kidney transplant in a foreign hospital, according to sources. If he goes under the knife, he will have to stay abroad for months.

Oli had undergone a kidney transplant in New Delhi in 2007. Since then, he has been doing regular health check-ups at hospitals abroad and inside the country.

His health has been deteriorating in the past few months. He has visited Singapore for routine health check-up in early August.

But, in less than 15 days after returning from Singapore, Oli revisited Singapore after the antibody was found more than required in his body.

Even if he does not undergo a transplant, he has to undergo regular dialysis and will be in no condition to come outside his official residence in Baluwatar.

According to sources, Oli has considered Nepal Communist Party General Secretary Bishnu Paudel, Defense Minister and Deputy-prime minister Ishwar Pokharel, senior leader Bam Dev Gautam and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali as the top choice.

Also, many other top leaders are also lobbying for the position, it has been learned.