Gandaki UML to Recall Ministers; Phanindra Devkota Likely to Return as Minister

The CPN-UML party is poised to recall its ministers from the Gandaki Province government, a significant political maneuver in Nepal's provincial administration. Chief Minister Surendraraj Pandey had previously urged the UML ministers to step down voluntarily on moral grounds, signaling a shift in the provincial political landscape.

The decision to recall the four UML lawmakers, Govinda Nepali, Bhim Karki, Yashoda Rimal, and Laxman Pandey, who currently hold ministerial positions, is expected to be finalized at a meeting of the UML Gandaki parliamentary party board. This board, comprising key party leaders, will deliberate on the government's current situation and chart the course forward.

This development is part of broader political realignments occurring across Nepal, stemming from a three-point agreement at the national level between the UML and the CPN. The reshuffling of provincial governments, including in Gandaki and Madhesh, is underway as the parties consolidate their positions. Notably, Phanindra Devkota of the Nepal Socialist Party, who resigned as energy minister following the Gen Z protests, is expected to be reappointed, adding another layer to the ongoing political negotiations.