KATHMANDU: Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) leader and Minister without portfolio Hari Sharan Acharya, who was proposed to take charge of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Drinking Water in Gandaki Province, has refused the offered portfolio demanding the Ministry of Finance to his party.
Gandaki Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel had temporarily assigned portfolios to coalition partners after assuming office. He had appointed Nepali Congress’ (NC) lawmaker Kumar Khadka as the Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology and Social Development and Maoist Center lawmaker Madhumaya Adhikari Gurung as the Minister of Health and Population.
Likewise, CM Pokharel had proposed Minister without portfolio Hari Sharan Acharya to take charge of the Energy Ministry and another Minister without portfolio Deepak Manange to take charge of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Minister Manange who allegedly deserted former Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung after being ‘assured’ of a lucrative ministry in NC leader Nepali led cabinet has also refused to swear in as Ministry of Youth and Sports. Manange has been demanding either of the Ministry for Finance or Ministry for Physical Infrastructure.
Minister Acharya said the NC had struck a 4-point deal with JSP before taking vote of confidence. As per that agreement, JSP would take charge of two ministries, including Ministry for Finance.
“The Chief Minister should abide by the agreement and assign us the two Ministries, including Finance Ministry,” he said. CM Nepali should resolve the issue at the earliest, he added.
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