Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki is preparing to remove the current ministers and bring in new faces due to poor performance and internal dissatisfaction.
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While the controversy over the selection of the Chief Minister is escalating in Madhesh Province, the UML has shown signs of a ministerial reshuffle in Koshi Province. According to UML sources, there is a possibility of a change in the current ministers within two to three days. Preparations are being made to remove the current ministers and bring in new faces due to poor performance and internal dissatisfaction.
"Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki is preparing to reorganize the cabinet within the first week of Mangesh," he said. Since party in-charge Sherdhan Rai and chairman Ghanashyam Khatiwada are busy in the district, it is said that the new ministers will be finalized as soon as they return to Biratnagar. Currently, the Koshi Province government has five ministers and one minister of state, including the Chief Minister, from the UML.
The current ministers are Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar, Internal Affairs and Law Minister Rewatiraman Bhandari, Drinking Water and Irrigation Minister Ekraj Karki, Social Development Minister Panchkarna Rai, and Minister of State under the Chief Minister's and Council of Ministers' Office Sirjana Rai. Preparations are underway to recall other ministers except Law Minister Bhandari.
UML Parliamentary Party Chief Whip Bidur Linthep confirmed that preparations are underway for a ministerial reshuffle and indicated that a new team will be announced soon. The names of Jhapa's Tilchand Pathak, Dhankuta's Niran Rai and Indramani Parajuli, Sunsari's Ram Prasad Mahato, and Sankhuwasabha's Bidur Linthep have been put forward as new ministers.
Sunsari's Mina Shrestha is also in the running to become a minister as a woman representative. She has claimed the Ministry of Forest and Tourism, which is currently under the responsibility of the Nepali Congress.
It is understood that the UML is preparing to make a decision this time in the selection of ministers by keeping in mind geographical balance, ethnic identity, and an inclusive framework. According to the provincial MP, 'This is the only time that the UML ministers change. After six months, as per the previous agreement, another ministerial panel will be formed after Congress's Uddhav Thapa becomes the Chief Minister. At that time, the UML will join the government under the leadership of Tilkumar Menyangwo.'
