Pokhara, September 2
Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey has reshuffled his Cabinet. Four ministers from the CPN-UML resigned on August 26 after the CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) allied at the federal level.
Pandey has once again appointed Phanindra Devkota, a lawmaker from the Nepal Socialist Party (NESP) who was elected on the Maoist Centre’s election symbol, as Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Drinking Water. Devkota had previously become a minister after voting in favour of Pandey’s confidence motion on June 3, 2024.
Nanda Prasad Neupane, who had been heading the Energy Ministry, has now been given responsibility for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, which had been retained by Chief Minister Pandey himself.
Devkota, who is associated with the NCP, had resigned on September 10, 2025, following the deaths of children and others during the Gen Z movement. The latest reshuffle was made in line with Devkota’s demand, with Devkota returning to the Energy Ministry and Neupane taking charge of the Physical Infrastructure Ministry. Devkota has already taken the oath of office.
Pandey was appointed chief minister on May 29, 2024, as leader of the largest party after filing petitions at the Supreme Court twice and securing the removal of then-Chief Minister Khagaraj Adhikari of the UML.
Pandey secured a vote of confidence with the support of two Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmakers, independent lawmaker Rajib Gurung (Deepak Manange) and Phanindra Devkota, without the support of the UML or the Maoist Centre.
Only after Pandey secured the vote of confidence did the Nepali Congress and UML agree to cooperate at the federal level, following which the UML joined the provincial government.
After the UML and NCP again reached an agreement at the federal level, four UML ministers—Physical Infrastructure Minister Govinda Bahadur, Agriculture Minister Bhim Karki, Health Minister Laxman Pandey and Tourism Minister Yashoda Rimal—resigned on August 26.
Chief Minister Pandey had retained the ministries vacated by the UML ministers.
