Speculation mounts over next Home Minister following Sudhan Gurung's resignation

Kathmandu. Following Sudhan Gurung's resignation just 26 days after becoming Home Minister, interest has grown regarding who will be the next Home Minister from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

Addressing questions and comments raised by the public regarding share investments involving controversial businessman Deepak Bhatt, Gurung announced his resignation on Wednesday on moral grounds.

He had become Home Minister in Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah's cabinet on Chaitra 13. According to sources, there is a strong possibility that party General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti will become the new Home Minister following Gurung's resignation.

Burlakoti, who is close to Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, is a founding leader. Sources stated that Home Ministry secretariat member Deepak Bohara and spokesperson Manish Jha have also staked their claims.

'If a consensus is reached, Kabindra-ji has a strong chance of becoming Home Minister. However, Deepak and Manish have also made claims. If no consensus is reached, others may also emerge,' the source said.

Burlakoti was elected from Gorkha-2 in the last election. He had recently become the Chief Whip of the parliamentary party. When the party was established in 2079, Burlakoti was a central member. He became General Secretary after serving as Deputy General Secretary.

He was born in Salyantar, Dhading in 2036. He moved to Palungtar-9, Gorkha at the age of five. Having completed his Master's in Finance, he has studied a Human Rights and Business course from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

He is known as a polite leader within the party. Burlakoti had visited the Home Ministry only on Tuesday evening. However, he has already clarified that he did not go to discuss the Home Minister position.

It is understood that Home Ministry secretariat member Deepak Bohara has also staked a claim. Bohara, who has been a trusted aide of Chairman Rabi since the News 24 days, was elected from Kanchanpur-2.

After Deputy Chairman DP Aryal was elected Speaker, he became the head of the party's Diaspora Department. It is understood that Bohara is a contender for Home Minister also because he has the experience of working as a personal secretary when Rabi was Home Minister. However, sources claim that spokesperson Manish Jha's claim to the position has created complications.

'So far, three claims have emerged. Since Manish has also claimed the Home Ministry, things have not been settled. Something might be decided by the evening. If the three do not drop their claims, there are others as alternatives,' the source said.

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Jha, who comes from a journalism background, was a proportional representative MP in the previous parliament. He was elected from Dhanusha-3 in the last election.

The source did not want to clarify who else, besides these three, has a chance of becoming Home Minister. There was mounting pressure for Gurung to resign after he was dragged into controversy.

The party's disciplinary commission is also internally investigating Gurung's share investments. After being dragged into the controversy, Gurung had held repeated discussions with Prime Minister Balen and party Chairman Rabi.

The Prime Minister and the Chairman also held discussions on Monday night regarding Gurung. Gurung announced his resignation from the post after meeting the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning.

The party also preferred that he resign on moral grounds rather than recommending action to the Prime Minister.