KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah is preparing to appoint Dipak Kumar Sah, a member of the House of Representatives elected from Sunsari-4, as the new Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
According to a member of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Sah’s name has been recommended for the position, although his appointment has not yet been officially confirmed.
Party sources say Shah is preparing to appoint Sah despite efforts by Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane’s team to promote party leader Ganesh Parajuli for the post. Sah, who is an engineer by profession, is being considered for the ministry following the resignation of Industry Minister Gauri Kumari Yadav earlier Thursday.
However, President’s Office spokesperson Ritesh Kumar Shakya said no official letter regarding Sah’s appointment had been received so far. He said the office had not received any communication from the Prime Minister’s Office beyond reports circulating in the media.
As a Cabinet meeting is currently underway at Singha Durbar, there is a possibility that Sah could take the oath of office later Thursday. However, no decision has been formally announced, so his appointment cannot yet be confirmed.
Sah had previously served as a vice president of CK Raut’s Janamat Party before joining the Rastriya Swatantra Party ahead of the March 5 election. He has been involved in various issues related to climate change and is regarded as an influential technical figure within the party.
He is also considered close to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and party leader Amresh Kumar Singh. Party sources claim that Shah played a key role in bringing Sah into the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Sah defeated Nepali Congress leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki in the March 5 elections.
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