Sports Ministry Effectively Managed by Advisor Siddhi Byanjankar, Brother of Kumar Benka

April 24, Kathmandu – On Monday, a team including Siddhi Byanjankar visited the National Sports Council (RANOC) to inspect the ‘National Team Preparation’ program. In Minister Sasmit Pokharel’s absence, the team represented the Sports Ministry during the inspection.

RANOC had initiated its Mission 2026 program to prepare for the 20th Asian Games starting in Japan on September 19. However, this program, launched on January 29, 2024, was halted from late January due to budget constraints.

The inspection team, unaware of the suspension, questioned RANOC member secretary Ramcharitra Mehtal and immediately directed the resumption of training. The team included Siddhi Byanjankar and Raju Singh.

The minister’s secretariat confirmed that Siddhi Byanjankar was appointed as Chief Advisor of the Sports Ministry. Siddhi is the elder brother of Kumar Benka, Chief Political Advisor to Prime Minister Balendra Shah. In addition, Nisham Maharjan serves as Chief Personal Assistant, and Raju Singh is Youth Development, Monitoring, and Evaluation Advisor.

On Thursday afternoon at the Sports Ministry, the minister’s office was found empty while Chief Advisor Siddhi and his team were present in their respective workspaces within the secretariat.

Although Sasmit Pokharel is the sports minister, Siddhi Byanjankar has been leading activities from inspections to directives, representing the ministry in tasks such as budget allocation and athlete send-offs. Siddhi stated, “Minister Sasmit has told me to handle sports affairs, while she focuses on education.”

All issues related to sports are reportedly communicated by Prime Minister Balendra Shah to his chief advisor Kumar Benka, who in turn instructs his brother Siddhi. In this way, Siddhi has taken responsibility and progressed the ministry’s work.

Siddhi issues directives to staff and keeps detailed accounts of identified sports problems. On whether his role is advisory or directive, Siddhi hesitated and said, “We will continue to communicate honestly about the state of sports.”

He added that he only visits the ministry when necessary and did not provide clear comments on how the ministry is currently operating. Raju Singh noted, “We ourselves are working in sports. The minister is not brought into the work by us. The main issue is the budget; nothing else. We have been running the mission.”

Singh also reported that the team works at the ministry from 7 a.m. until 11 or 12 midnight daily.

Usually, advisors are appointed to offer suggestions and guidance to ministers, but in sports, Siddhi Byanjankar is effectively functioning at the ministerial level, according to sports officials.

RANOC member secretary Ramcharitra Mehtal confirmed that Siddhi’s directions were approved and the steps are being taken to support ministry work.

Limited Ministerial Attention to Sports

Almost a month after appointment, Minister Sasmit Pokharel has only visited Fapla Cricket Ground in Dhangadhi briefly to bat. Even during the National Sports Council inspection, he focused primarily on education-related matters.

His one-month activities include the RANOC inspection and sending the kabaddi and wrestling teams off to the Asian Beach Games, limited largely to appearances at Fapla Ground.

The minister’s frequent engagement with the education ministry takes priority, as confirmed by his social media posts.

Pokharel plans to honor silver medalist Erica Gurung, who won in the Karate One Premier League 2026, only after criticism, despite earlier neglect, particularly towards students taking the SEE examinations.

A ministry employee commented, “The minister has spent very little time here. When in Kathmandu, he usually comes to the office for only 1-2 hours.”

Many believe the minister’s focus has been on the education ministry at the expense of sports. A RANOC board member noted, “The current sports minister has not devoted even five minutes to sports.”