BUTWAL, July 30: Chet Narayan Acharya will continue as Lumbini Province’s Chief Minister after the ruling party reached an internal agreement despite speculation that the leadership would change under the province’s new power-sharing arrangement.
The decision was made during a meeting in Bhaktapur attended by CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, Vice Chair Bishnu Paudel, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Chief Minister Acharya, and former Chief Minister Lila Giri.
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Following the meeting, Acharya confirmed that he would remain in office. “Today’s discussion concluded with an agreement to continue my leadership as chief minister. From tomorrow, we will begin discussions with the CPN on power-sharing and government formation,” he said.
Speculation over a change in leadership had intensified after the CPN-UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) agreed to form a new coalition following the collapse of the UML–Nepali Congress alliance at the federal level.
Although several UML leaders, including parliamentary party deputy leader Bhoj Prasad Shrestha, were reportedly considered contenders for the post, the party leadership ultimately decided to retain Acharya as chief minister.
