Prime Minister Walendra Shah ‘Balen’ Decides to Reappoint Sudhan Gurung as Home Minister
According to reports, Prime Minister Walendra Shah ‘Balen’ has decided to reinstate Sudhan Gurung, who resigned from the post of Home Minister one and a half months ago, back to the same position. The Prime Minister’s Secretariat has confirmed this decision. Deepa Dahal, Press and Research Officer to the Prime Minister, stated that arrangements have been made for Gurung’s oath-taking ceremony at the President’s Office. “The appointment of the minister is on the recommendation of the Prime Minister,” she told the news agency. Gurung is expected to take his oath on Tuesday; however, the exact date the President will administer the oath after the reappointment remains unclear.
This decision by Prime Minister Shah to reappoint Gurung came just days after the government received a report from the Property Investigation Committee. Speculation about Gurung returning as Home Minister had already been circulating before this announcement. The Cabinet meeting that approved the receipt of the report was held Tuesday morning, where even the government spokesperson, Pokharel, did not comment on Gurung’s reappointment. However, he confirmed the Cabinet’s decision to accept the investigation report. The committee, led by coordinator Achyut Prasad Bhandari, submitted its report to the government last Friday.
Speaking with the news agency, Bhandari stated that the committee had drawn “factual conclusions” based on evidence regarding Gurung’s assets. He added that the committee has urged the government to make the investigation report public soon to keep the people informed. Gurung resigned from the Home Minister position on May 22nd (Baishakh 9) on the grounds of “morality” after questions arose concerning the sources of his personal wealth. He stepped down just 27 days after taking office. Elected from Gorkha-1 to the House of Representatives, Gurung explained via social media that he resigned “to ensure a fair investigation concerning the issues related to me and to avoid any conflict of interest while in office.”
Sudhan Gurung was appointed Home Minister on the very day the cabinet led by Prime Minister Walendra Shah ‘Balen’ was formed. Following the public release of Gurung’s asset declaration, questions were raised about the sources of his income and investments, including undisclosed shares. These concerns exerted pressure on Gurung, Prime Minister Shah, and the top leadership of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Gurung is the second individual to be removed from the current cabinet. Previously, Deepak Kumar Sah, who was appointed Labor Minister amid controversy concerning his wife’s appointment, was also removed within two weeks.
