KATHMANDU: A secretary transferred to Koshi Province by the federal government nearly three weeks ago has been unable to assume office after the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Development of Koshi Province, Bhupendra Rai, refused to let him report for duty.
On August 11, the federal government reassigned Secretary Milan Acharya to Koshi Province. The Chief Minister’s Office then decided to post him to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Development. However, Minister Rai rejected the decision, preventing Acharya from formally taking charge.
As a result, Acharya has been left without responsibilities for about 20 days, despite the technical secretary’s post being vacant in the ministry since former secretary Ashok Sah was transferred to Kathmandu on August 11.
Sources said Minister Rai challenged the chief minister’s decision by refusing to allow Acharya to join, even as another federal appointee, Secretary Dr. Yaduchandra Ghimire, has already taken charge at the Ministry of Health. Rai currently heads both the health and infrastructure ministries in Koshi.
The controversy extends beyond the secretarial posting. Rai has also been accused of irregularities in the transfer of divisional engineers (DEs) in 14 district-level offices under his ministry. Although the authority to appoint office heads rests with the Chief Minister’s Office, Rai allegedly orchestrated backdated transfers in collusion with ministry officials.
The dispute has deepened tensions within the ruling Congress–UML coalition in Koshi. Relations between Chief Minister Hikmat Karki and Minister Rai have soured, with the chief minister reportedly frustrated over growing disputes instead of coordination among coalition ministers.
In a separate incident this week, Minister for Industry, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, Khagen Singh Hangam, also from the Nepali Congress, seized the keys of a government vehicle assigned to Secretary Dr. Sharan Pandey, further escalating infighting.
Local sources claim Rai has sought to place engineers of his choice in key posts to channel contracts and budget allocations for political and personal benefit.
When contacted, Rai denied blocking Secretary Acharya, insisting that procedures now route postings through the Chief Minister’s Office instead of directly from the federal government. He maintained that no secretary has been prevented from assuming responsibility at his ministry.
Amid mounting disputes, Chief Minister Karki has complained that governance in Koshi Province is being hindered by infighting within the coalition.
Comment