Lumbini government in flux: Key ministerial positions still undecided

Butwal: There has been a delay in finalizing the distribution of ministerial positions between the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN UML in the Lumbini Province. Consequently, eight non-departmental ministers who were sworn in on July 24 are still without assigned roles.

Some of the ministers have traveled to Kathmandu or returned to their home districts for personal reasons as they have not been assigned ministerial portfolios. Although Chief Minister Chetnarayan Acharya has appointed four ministers from the Nepali Congress and four from the UML, the division of their responsibilities has not been completed. The Nepali Congress has also delayed announcing one additional ministerial appointment from its side.

A non-departmental minister told Ratopati that the chief minister is struggling to allocate duties due to competing claims for prestigious ministries from both parties. There is internal dissatisfaction within the Nepali Congress regarding the ministerial appointments. Amar Pun, President of the Congress Province Committee, has expressed frustration with the federal government's direct intervention in the appointment of provincial ministers.

Both the UML and the Congress have staked claims to the Ministry of Finance, and there are competing claims for the Ministry of Urban Development as well. Chief Minister Chetnarayan Acharya told Ratopati that while there are plans to include smaller parties in the government, decisions regarding their participation are on hold until the distribution of ministries is finalized.

Saroj Thapa, a minister from the Nepali Congress, stated that the specific ministries have not yet been designated. Thapa, who is currently in Kathmandu, noted, "If the ministries had been assigned, it would have been possible to start working on behalf of the people. However, the lack of assignment has delayed this process."

Bhumishwar Dhakal, a non-departmental minister from the UML, mentioned that it is unlikely the division of ministries will be finalized before July 31. He also noted that the chief minister and the leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party have agreed to finalize the ministry distribution.

Fringe parties eager to join government

Parties such as the Janamat Party (JP), Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), and Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) are keen to join the government. Chief Minister Chetnarayan Acharya told Ratopati that there will be one more minister from the Nepali Congress and two from smaller parties, though it is not yet clear which smaller parties will be included.

LSP parliamentary party leader Santosh Pandeya indicated that they are almost certain to join the government. Dharma Bahadur Chaudhary, the leader of the parliamentary party of the Nagarik Unmukti Party, also mentioned that informal discussions are ongoing about their participation in the government. Similarly, Janamat Party Secretary Bhupendra Yadav revealed that his party is considering joining the Lumbini provincial government, as well as participating in the Federation, Madhesh, and Lumbini provinces. The JSP, led by Akosh Rai, is also willing to join the Lumbini government.