MORANG: The Prachanda-Nepal faction of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has suspended eight lawmakers, including Chief Minister Sherdhan Rai, from participating in any activity of the Province Assembly.

They suspended for three months for engaging in activities against the interests of the party and the government, according to a letter signed by Prachanda-Nepal faction Parliamentary Party leader Bhim Prasad Acharya.

The faction has also suspended Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Hikmat Kumar Karki, Minister of State for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Ram Bahadur Magar, Minister of State for Physical Infrastructure Development Ambir Babu Gurung, Chief Whip Buddhi Kumar Rajbhandari, Province Assembly members Indra Mani Parajuli, Ambika Thapa and Bimal Karki.

Earlier, the faction had removed Chief Minister Rai from the leadership of the Parliamentary Party and elected Acharya to the post.

The group said they were suspended for not attending meetings and not furnishing clarifications.