DHANGADHI: A planned cabinet reshuffle in the Sudurpashchim Provincial Government was abruptly halted after CPN-UML Chair K. P. Sharma Oli reversed his earlier directive, leaving several lawmakers who were preparing to take the oath of office disappointed.
According to party sources, Oli had initially instructed UML’s Sudurpashchim parliamentary party leader Rajendra Singh Rawal to replace three ministers and one state minister in the provincial government.
Following the directive, UML had prepared to appoint Santosh Sharma Thapa as Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, Chakra Bahadur Malla as Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Daman Bhandari as Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Janaki Air Bam as State Minister.
A meeting of the UML parliamentary party had even been convened to formalize the changes. However, while the meeting was underway, Oli reportedly called Rawal and instructed him to suspend the reshuffle, arguing that replacing ministers during the budget period would send the wrong message.
As a result, current ministers Surendra Pal, Hira Sarki, Bir Bahadur Thapa, and State Minister Nirmala Saud will remain in office.
The sudden reversal sparked frustration among some UML leaders and cadres in Dhangadhi. Protesters reportedly chanted slogans against Rawal outside the parliamentary party office and attempted to vandalize the premises. While lawmakers prevented major damage, Rawal’s nameplate was reportedly destroyed.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition partner, the Nepali Congress, had also been preparing for ministerial changes as part of an agreement aimed at resolving internal disputes within the party.
Under the reported understanding, the dissatisfied faction within the party was expected to receive two ministerial positions and one state minister post, while Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah’s faction would retain one minister and one state minister.
However, with UML putting its reshuffle on hold, uncertainty now surrounds the timing of a broader cabinet reorganization in the Sudurpashchim Provincial Government.
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