Who Currently Controls the Ministry of Home Affairs?

April 20, Kathmandu – It has been 11 days since Sudhan Gurung resigned from his position as Home Minister. The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Balen Shah on April 9.

Gurung became embroiled in controversy after issues surfaced regarding him hiding share investments while declaring property details, and shares linked to a controversial businessman’s company appeared in his disclosures.

Shares of Gurung were found in businessman Deepak Bhatt’s company, though he had not declared them in his asset statement. Facing criticism over this, he pledged to cooperate with the investigation and resigned on April 9.

He wrote on Facebook at the time of his resignation, “In recent days, I have taken the questions, comments, and public concern from citizens regarding shares and related matters very seriously. For me, ethics are greater than positions. There is no power greater than public trust. I seek a fair and impartial investigation into matters related to me.”

Despite his resignation, the investigation against Gurung has yet to advance. Meanwhile, on April 16, RSP Chairperson Ravi Lamichhane stated that the probe would soon commence.

Speaking to journalists at Singha Durbar, he promised to provide information soon on how the investigation would proceed, noting, “I believe the process will start soon. We will also inform everyone on the type of investigation. He (Gurung) also requested an investigation just like others. Details regarding how the probe will proceed will be available shortly.”

Despite 11 days passing since Gurung’s resignation, no successor has yet been appointed as Home Minister. Following his resignation, PM Balen Shah has taken direct charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The ministry, which handles critical responsibilities such as overall peace and security, intelligence gathering, surveilling and acting against terrorist activities, and criminal investigations, is being managed directly by the Prime Minister.

Additionally, tasks that are not assigned to any other ministry have been added to the Home Ministry, making it a highly sensitive and powerful portfolio. Currently, this influential ministry operates under the guidance of the outgoing Home Minister Gurung’s private secretary, Mr. James Karki, and the direction of PM Balen Shah.

Although Gurung has stepped down, his private secretary James Karki remains active in managing ministry operations.

Karki himself was on site to oversee the removal of the inhabitants of the Manohara settlement. After a confrontation with police during the demolition, he returned the following day to supervise the operation.

“Since the people coordinated themselves, it was not difficult to proceed. We are working to resettle them properly so that they face no hardship, and due to minimal resistance, the work is moving forward smoothly,” he said.

Karki mentioned that coordination and direction were provided by the honorable members and secretaries. Ministry sources confirm that mainly the Prime Minister’s instructions and coordination by James Karki are guiding the Ministry of Home Affairs’ activities.

With nearly two weeks having elapsed and no new Home Minister appointed, and with Gurung’s private secretary continuously active, speculation has started that Gurung might return to the post of Home Minister.