Dramatic ministerial reshuffle in Sudurpaschim UML: Decision reversed in 36 hours

Dhangadhi: Dramatic and unexpected developments in the UML parliamentary politics of Sudurpaschim Province became public in the period of about 36 hours from Sunday to Monday evening.

On Sunday, while Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah was in an internal meeting, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli called him. In the phone, Chairman Oli called back the current ministers from UML and informed them that it had been decided to make Chakra Bahadur Malla, Daman Bahadur Bhandari, Santosh Kumari Sharma Thapa and Janaki Air ministers and instructed them to prepare accordingly.

Chairman Oli also called UML parliamentary party leader Rajendra Singh Rawal and instructed him to implement the ministerial reshuffle. As soon as the information was made public, all four people who were to become ministers received a flood of congratulations. Even the media published news that they were sure to become ministers.

On Monday afternoon, Chief Minister Shah called a cabinet meeting and thanked all the ministers and bid them farewell. After the Congress had also decided to replace all five of its ministers and the UML had announced that it would replace all four, it seemed certain that nine ministers from the provincial government would be dismissed. The Chief Minister's Office had even informed the Provincial Chief's Office to prepare for the oath-taking.

Meanwhile, the UML parliamentary party meeting was called for 10 am on Monday, but party leader Rawal did not start the meeting on time. Although it was scheduled to meet at 12 pm, the meeting only started around 4 pm. The decision to thank the current ministers was also written in the decision book at the meeting. At that very moment, Chairman Oli's secretariat chief Nirudevi Palka called party leader Rawal and asked him to talk to the chairman. The meeting ended without any conclusion after Chairman Oli instructed to keep the ministers as they were in the sensitive budget period.

After the meeting, cadres outside the party office shouted slogans against Rawal, vandalized his nameplate, and even locked the UML provincial office. The cadres are angry that they have been fooled.

According to UML sources, after the ministerial reshuffle was made public, Secretariat Chief Pal, Province In-charge Damodar Bhandari and party leader Rawal were not in favor of the new proposed ministers. They had become active in giving continuity to their close ministers. It is claimed that General Secretary Shankar Pokharel was also activated in this process and ultimately Chairman Oli was forced to change his decision.

All four leaders, who were publicly congratulated after the news of becoming ministers spread, are upset, feeling insulted. However, they have not made any public response after this incident. It is understood that they are currently engaged in internal consultations.

UML's latest decision has angered the cadres. On Monday, a group of angry cadres had chanted slogans in front of the parliamentary party office. They had also chanted slogans against party leader Rajendra Singh Rawal and committed general vandalism. Similarly, disgruntled cadres had even padlocked the party's provincial office.

Although the controversy over Minister Bhagbanda has subsided after a rebellion was seen within the Congress, there is talk of some Congress MPs having a different strategy. Meanwhile, if UML lawmakers revolt and become dissatisfied, the government is at risk of being in trouble. This political wave has put the provincial government under additional pressure at a sensitive time when the government needs to immediately pass policies and programs and present a budget.