Lumbini Province to reshuffle four CPN-UML ministers amid power-sharing talks

Lumbini Province is set to see a reshuffle of four ministers from the CPN-UML. Following Chief Minister Chetanaryan Acharya’s directive, ministers from the UML in the government are preparing to submit their resignations.

The decision to change ministers comes amid prolonged discussions on power-sharing and government restructuring with the Nepali Congress. Although there was an attempt to reshuffle the ministers in the first week of Jestha, the process was halted after the Congress parliamentary party insisted on a complete government restructuring, including the Chief Minister.

Party Chairman KP Sharma Oli instructed Chief Minister Acharya to request the resignations from the UML ministers.

Currently, Bhumi Swar Dhakal, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development; Dinesh Panthi, Minister for Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperatives; Khem Sarumagar, Minister for Health; and Sita Sharma Chaudhary, Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, are preparing to resign.

According to UML sources, Dilliraj Bhusal from Gulmi, Ramji Ghimire from Arghakhanchi, Tulsi Prasad Chaudhary from Rupandehi, and Ratna Khatri from Banke have been recommended as new ministers. Khatri has previously served as the Minister for Social Development, while Bhusal, Ghimire, and Chaudhary are new faces for ministerial positions.

The provincial government has already decided to reduce the number of ministries to eight starting from Shrawan 1. This decision is also included in the government’s policy and program.

The ministers are expected to submit their resignations by this evening.