Only nine lawmakers from Sudurpaschim Assembly left to become ministers

DIL BAHADUR CHHATYAL

DHANGADHI, Aug 23: More than two-thirds of the members of the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly have already served as ministers amid repeated changes in the provincial government, leaving only nine lawmakers who have yet to hold ministerial office.

The second-term Provincial Assembly, elected in November 2022, has seen five changes of government in 44 months, reflecting the political instability that has continued at the provincial level despite the federal system’s stated aim of ensuring stable governments.

Of the province’s 53 lawmakers, 38 have served as ministers, while four have also had the opportunity to become chief minister. Nepali Congress lawmaker Kamal Bahadur Shah has served as chief minister twice during the current Assembly’s tenure.

With around a year and a half remaining in the current Assembly term, some of the nine lawmakers who have not yet held ministerial positions could still get the opportunity as political alliances continue to shift.

Among the lawmakers yet to become ministers is Khemadevi Bista of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), the party’s sole member in the Provincial Assembly. She has remained in the opposition.

The largest bloc in the Assembly, the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), formed through the merger of lawmakers elected from the then CPN (Maoist Centre), Nagarik Unmukti Party and CPN (Unified Socialist), has 22 members. Only two of its lawmakers—Man Bahadur Dhami of Darchula and Shivsinh Oli of Doti—have not served as ministers. Bhim Bahadur Bhandari, elected from the then Maoist Centre, is the Assembly speaker.

The CPN-UML has 11 members, of whom only Dharma Raj Pathak has not become a minister. Pathak currently chairs the Provincial Assembly’s Social Development Committee. Koili Devi Chaudhary, another UML member, is the deputy speaker, while the party’s remaining nine lawmakers have served as ministers.

The Nepali Congress (NC) has the highest number of lawmakers yet to receive ministerial positions. Of its 18 members, six—Diwan Singh Bista, Padam Bahadur Shahi, Dammari Mahara, Gita Chaudhary, Lalita Sunar and Tulsi Devkota—have not served as ministers.

At the same time, several lawmakers have held ministerial positions more than once. Om Bikram Bhat of the NCP, Shivraj Bhatta of the Nepali Congress, former lawmaker Prakash Bahadur Deuba of the NC and Khushiram Chaudhary, elected from Nagarik Unmukti and now with the NCP, have served as ministers twice.

Some lawmakers who have not received ministerial positions are considered comparatively qualified and capable, according to political leaders. However, they say ministerial appointments are often based on access to party leaders and factional interests rather than policy, principles or clear criteria.

No political party secured a majority in the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly in the November 20, 2022 election.

Rajendra Singh Rawal of the CPN-UML became chief minister on January 11, 2023, with the support of the then Maoist Centre and Nagarik Unmukti Party. His government collapsed after just a month.

NC leader Kamal Bahadur Shah became chief minister on February 9, 2023. After his government fell, CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Dirgha Bahadur Sodari became chief minister on April 18, 2024, with UML support.

Sodari’s government collapsed after the UML withdrew its support just three months later. Shah then returned as chief minister on August 4, 2024, with UML backing.

His second government subsequently fell after the UML withdrew support amid a dispute over the provincial budget. On August 14, 2026, a new government was formed under NCP leader Khagaraj Bhat with UML support.