I think they also have to consider their voter base as the backlash will be severe and there is no doubt about that. I mean Petrol & Diesel are already quite expensive and yet they need to be made quite a bit more expensive which has a compound effect on almost everything.
I also think that the incumbent was under the impression that they would somehow be able to either persuade IMF to resume the program without forcing the under pressure Government to remove the subsidies or wanted to go to IMF with the request that removing the subsidies will not leave any room for further burdening through increase in Taxes (direct or indirect). It is quite possible that the incumbent succeeded in the later and once the cabinet gives the go-ahead to removing the subsidies in phases, the IMF program will resume and IMF will release the next tranche in June/July. Even the confirmation from IMF will open doors to many other lenders which will east the burden on the Government leading to some stability in the next 4-6 months.