Pokhara, August 25
The CPN-UML is preparing to recall its ministers from the Gandaki Province government. Chief Minister Surendraraj Pandey had urged the UML ministers to resign on moral grounds before the government removed them.
The decision to recall the ministers is expected to be taken at a meeting of the UML Gandaki parliamentary party board. Four UML lawmakers currently serving as ministers are Govinda Nepali, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management; Bhim Karki, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives; Yashoda Rimal, Minister for Industry and Tourism; and Laxman Pandey, Minister for Health.
Chief Minister Pandey reshuffled his Cabinet on April 15, replacing all ministers from both the Nepali Congress and UML before travelling to Kathmandu. A UML provincial leader said the parliamentary party board would decide on recalling the ministers while continuing discussions with other parties about forming a new government.
UML Chief Whip Devka Pahari said the meeting would discuss the government situation and make a decision. Another UML lawmaker said preparations were underway to ask the ministers to resign.
Earlier, Padma GC had served as agriculture minister, Krishna Pathak as health minister, Prakash Bahadur KC as physical infrastructure minister and Mitralal Basyal as industry and tourism minister from the UML.
From the Nepali Congress, Jit Sherchan replaced Dr Takraj Gurung as finance minister, Rekha Gurung replaced Bindukumar Thapa as social development minister, and Namdu Gurung replaced Bhesh Bahadur Paudel as forest minister. After Phanindra Devkota of the Nepal Socialist Party resigned as energy, water resources and irrigation minister, Pandey appointed Nandaprasad Neupane to the ministry. Devkota resigned following the loss of life during the Gen Z protests on September 8 and is now expected to be reappointed.
The UML parliamentary party board consists of party leader Khagaraj Adhikari, deputy leader Lil Bahadur Thapa, Chief Whip Devka Pahari, Whip Bhakta Kunwar, and lawmakers Sudhir Paudel and Sita Sundas.
Pandey was appointed chief minister on May 29, 2024, after the Supreme Court twice issued orders that resulted in the removal of the government led by Khagaraj Adhikari. In the 60-member Gandaki Provincial Assembly, 27 Nepali Congress lawmakers, two Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmakers, Devkota and independent lawmaker Rajiv Gurung (Deepak Manange) had supported Pandey in a confidence vote. Manange has since been removed from office, while the others have not withdrawn their support.
About a month after the Nepali Congress and UML agreed to work together, Pandey finally brought four UML ministers into the government in September 2024. However, following a three-point agreement at the centre between the UML and the CPN, efforts to reshuffle provincial governments are now underway across the country.
In Gandaki and Madhesh, the UML and CPN have not yet decided because of their numbers. Even combined, the UML’s 22 lawmakers and the CPN’s six lawmakers in Gandaki do not have enough seats to form a majority government. The RPP remains the decisive force in the province and has not withdrawn its support for Pandey.
Former chief minister Khagaraj Adhikari had attempted to win over the RPP. However, the party has said it will remain neutral for now in line with the central decision. The RPP is also unhappy with the UML in Bagmati Province, where UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has been accused of trying to influence RPP lawmakers. The UML therefore plans to recall its ministers while continuing efforts to form a new government.
With the UML preparing to withdraw its ministers, leaders say Chief Minister Pandey has already held preliminary discussions with the party leadership in Kathmandu about appointing new ministers.
Phanindra Devkota of the Nepal Socialist Party (New Force), led by Baburam Bhattarai, is almost certain to return to Pandey’s Cabinet. Devkota had won the provincial election on the Maoist Centre’s election symbol. Discussions are underway to give him the Energy, Water Resources and Drinking Water Ministry again, although he is reportedly seeking the Physical Infrastructure Ministry.
Among Nepali Congress lawmakers, Ashok Shrestha of Tanahun, Dilliram Subedi of Baglung and Drona Kunwar, who had previously threatened to resign, are considered the leading contenders for ministerial positions. Mahesh Bhattarai of Syangja and Dilmaya Paubi of Baglung are also seeking ministerial posts. Congress leaders said two ministers from the party are likely to be appointed for now.
Proposals have also been made to appoint both RPP lawmakers as ministers. However, party leaders said they are unlikely to join the government because the RPP’s current policy is to stay out of power.
Chief Minister Pandey had repeatedly said that the UML ministers should resign on moral grounds and make way for changes before being removed from office. He had also said that the existing government could not continue for long after an agreement was reached at the centre. UML parliamentary party leader and ministers, however, had maintained that a coalition government could still be formed in Gandaki.
Speaking to Onlinekhabar, UML parliamentary party leader Khagaraj Adhikari said he was aware of the chief minister’s position. He said the stability of the provincial government remained the party’s priority regardless of agreements reached at the centre.
“Our primary concern is that the relevance of the provincial government should not be called into question. That is why our position was that we should move forward together,” Adhikari said. “It is not about the Congress, UML and Maoists fighting with each other. The situation requires us to prevent the government from doing wrong. We have to protect the country and the Constitution. That is where our main focus lies.”
Adhikari also said that if the chief minister believed UML ministers should resign on moral grounds, Pandey should also consider his own position from the same perspective. He said he was aware of the chief minister’s statements and that the UML would make a decision at an appropriate time.
