CPN UML Recommends New Ministers for Lumbini Province Government After Resignations

Butwal. After the four ministers participating in the Lumbini Province government from CPN UML resigned, the party has recommended new ministers. According to UML sources, Dilliraj Bhusal of Gulmi, Ramji Ghimire of Arghakhanchi, Tulsiprasad Chaudhary of Rupandehi, and Ratna Khatri of Banke have been recommended as new ministers. Khatri has previously held the responsibility of Minister of Social Development, while Bhusal, Ghimire, and Chaudhary are new faces for the ministry. A UML provincial assembly member said that UML has prioritized MPs who were elected to the provincial assembly for the second time but did not get the opportunity to become ministers. UML has changed its ministers at a time when discussions have been ongoing for a long time regarding the power-sharing with Congress and the restructuring of the government. Earlier, although an attempt was made to change ministers in the first week of Jestha, the process was halted for some time as the Congress parliamentary party insisted on restructuring the government simultaneously with the Chief Minister. Following the directive of party chairman KP Sharma Oli, Chief Minister Acharya had urged the UML ministers to resign. Currently, Bhumishwor Dhakal, Dinesh Panthi, Khem Sarumagar, and Sita Sharma Chaudhary, who were participating in the government from UML, have submitted their resignations. The provincial government has already decided to reduce the number of ministries to 8 from the coming Shrawan 1. This matter has also been included in the government's policy and program. Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya said that discussions are ongoing regarding the selection of ministers and the final decision is yet to be made.