KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has thrown his support behind Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who is under intense pressure to resign following allegations of involvement in a visit visa scam.
The controversy erupted after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) launched a probe against Tirtharaj Bhattarai, a joint secretary at the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport, whom the ministry had hastily transferred. The scandal has now dragged Home Minister Lekhak into the spotlight.
Despite having previously called for ministerial accountability while in opposition, Lekhak is now arguing that he should not be held personally liable for corruption committed by government employees. He maintains that any wrongdoing will be dealt with through legal action against the officials involved.
Sources close to the ruling coalition say that Lekhak was prepared to resign earlier this week due to mounting pressure. However, Deuba reportedly persuaded him to stay on, arguing that there is no compelling reason for him to step down at this time.
During internal discussions, including with leaders from coalition partner UML, Lekhak had expressed that he was uncomfortable remaining in office under the circumstances. Still, Deuba’s intervention seems to have convinced him otherwise.
The matter was not raised during Wednesday’s high-level meeting at Baluwatar, where top leaders from the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML gathered to strategize on presenting the Economic Survey and the national budget.
CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula confirmed that the meeting focused only on parliamentary plans, not on Lekhak’s resignation.
A similar stance was taken during a meeting held earlier this week at Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha.
According to insiders, instead of addressing the allegations against Lekhak, Deuba and other senior Congress leaders, including former General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala, criticized party members who had demanded his resignation. Some even called for disciplinary action against them.
Those pushing for Lekhak’s removal, including Dr. Shekhar Koirala, Sunil Sharma, and Rajendra Bajgain, now face potential consequences within the party.
Meanwhile, other Nepali Congress leaders, including General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, have remained silent on the issue, neither defending nor opposing Lekhak. Their neutrality is seen by some as strategic, given the intensifying public backlash.
Opposition parties – including CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party – raised the issue in Parliament on Tuesday, disrupting the session and forcing its postponement to Wednesday.
Although opposition pressure continues to mount, the ruling coalition appears determined to push forward with the Economic Survey and Thursday’s budget presentation.
Despite public outrage and internal friction, both Deuba and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli have remained reluctant to remove Lekhak, signaling a strategy of parliamentary endurance rather than concession.
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