KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has dismissed claims that Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai resigned due to internal disagreements, stating that she stepped down for health-related reasons.
Speaking at a program marking the 76th founding day of the Communist Party of Nepal, PM Oli expressed dissatisfaction over what he called “misleading speculation” surrounding Bhattarai’s resignation.
“She is a minister I appointed. I have been assigning her responsibilities, supporting her, guiding her. She oversees a major ministry, and now she has resigned due to health issues,” Oli clarified. “There’s no need for any other kind of propaganda.”
Bhattarai’s resignation earlier this week came amid mounting pressure from protesting teachers demanding the prompt passage of the Education Bill.
Her departure was widely interpreted as a response to a lack of government support, particularly from the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Poudel. However, PM Oli rejected such interpretations, insisting there was no rift.
The Prime Minister also criticized attempts to politicize other unrelated issues, such as linking Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s health visit to Bangkok with rumors of government instability.
Reaffirming the political agreement with the Nepali Congress, Oli said he remains committed to transferring power to Deuba after 15 months, in accordance with the UML-Nepali Congress deal.
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