Far-West Government Faces Calls for Ministerial Reshuffle

Dhangadhi. There is talk of changing ministers in the Far-West government. Lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress in the Far-West Province are themselves demanding a change in ministers.

Currently, Kamal Bahadur Shah of the Nepali Congress is leading the government in the Far-West. Ministries have been distributed according to the agreement between UML and Congress. From Congress, Bahadur Singh Thapa is the Minister of Economic Affairs. Similarly, Meghraj Khadka is the Minister of Social Development.

Shivaraj Bhatta of Congress is the Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment. From UML, Surendra Bahadur Pal is the Minister of Physical Infrastructure Development, and Hira Sarki is the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law. Bir Bahadur Thapa is the Minister of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives. Similarly, three state ministers are also included in the government. Among them, Sarita Khadka of Congress is the State Minister for Social Development, Prakash Bom of Congress is the State Minister for Economic Affairs, and Nirmala Devi Saud of UML is the State Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development.

There is great dissatisfaction within the ruling party regarding the team in the Far-West government. According to Vikram Singh Dhami, the chief whip of the Nepali Congress, the issue of changing ministers has been prioritized in the parliamentary party meeting. 'There has been a demand to change the ministers. This issue has also been discussed with leaders at the center. However, since this is a coalition government of two parties, Congress-UML, it cannot be done solely by our wish. We have to consult with UML in Kathmandu,' he said.

According to him, there is a preparation to change ministers. The decision will be made from the center.

In a meeting held in Dhangadhi two days ago, with the participation of leaders including party president Gagan Thapa and vice-president Biswaprakash Sharma, provincial lawmakers emphasized more on the rotation of ministers than on changing the chief minister. Some lawmakers demanded a change in ministers, while some lawmakers said that the chief minister himself should be changed. In that meeting, lawmaker Gita Chaudhary insisted on the representation of the Tharu community.

Similarly, in the discussion of that meeting, lawmaker Diwan Singh Bist raised questions about the working style of the chief minister. There is talk of Man Bahadur Rawal, Dammari Mahara, Padam Bahadur Shahi, and Tulsi Devkota being in the race to become ministers. 'Everyone should get the experience of government and the opportunity to serve the public in turns,' was their statement. After listening to everyone in that meeting, President Gagan Thapa indicated that the government would not fall immediately.

It seems the center's strategy is to not make major changes in the cabinet at least until the next budget is presented, and to change ministers based on performance after the budget. Lawmakers say they are awaiting the center's decision on changing the government and ministers.

The Far-West government is currently busy with the work of bringing the budget for the next financial year. Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah has said that the possibility of changing the government and the ministers in the government at this time is very low. 'At this time, changing ministers, changing the government is just a rumor,' Shah said.

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