Internal party disputes delay cabinet expansion in Lumbini, Karnali

Cabinet expansion in Nepal's Lumbini and Karnali provinces faces significant delays due to internal power struggles within the ruling Nepali Communist Party (NCP). Dissatisfaction among lawmakers from the former Nagarik Unmukti Party and CPN (Unified Socialist) has surfaced after the NCP recommended three former Maoist leaders for ministerial positions.

These lawmakers, who joined the NCP following party mergers, claim they were merely used to secure the chief minister’s vote of confidence. They now threaten to withdraw their support and sit in opposition, creating a political impasse. Naramaya Dhakal, a provincial lawmaker from the former Nagarik Unmukti Party, expressed her group's "rebellion," stating they were excluded from the cabinet despite backing the government. "The names were recommended secretly, in a closed room, without informing us," she said.

Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya has forwarded a list of proposed ministers and portfolio changes to the provincial head. Indrajit Tharu is slated for economic affairs and planning, Dipendra Pun ‘Sijal’ for health, and Krishna Kushma Tharu for agriculture, land management, and cooperatives. All three are former Maoists, with Tharu and Pun having prior ministerial experience. The NCP and UML coalition had agreed to power-sharing, with UML holding the chief minister post and specific ministries, while NCP would manage economic affairs, health, and agriculture. The Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal has been allocated other key ministries.

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We were apparently used only to secure the vote of confidence. The names were recommended secretly, in a closed room, without informing us. According to the reports circulating outside, all three nominees are former Maoists.