After the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah removed over 1,500 political appointees through an ordinance, there is growing curiosity over how these vacant positions will be filled now.
A total of 1,594 public officials were removed from their posts after President Ram Chandra Paudel, upon the government's recommendation, issued the Ordinance on Special Provisions Relating to the Removal of Public Officials from Office, 2026.
Setopati talked to Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Pratibha Rawal, regarding the matter.
She said that both the government and the party are currently discussing a framework for new appointments to the vacant positions. She emphasized that the new appointments will be kept away from politics and nepotism.
"We will fill all positions based on expertise and merit using a different approach. We will move forward in a new way," she told Setopati. "The new appointments will be made transparently."
Minister Rawal explained that the process will clearly demonstrate why a new appointee is qualified for the post. She asserted that the practice of receiving appointments simply due to political affiliation would end, with priority shifted to competence and professional expertise.
"This government believes in delivering quality results. We came to power with an agenda of good governance; therefore, transparency will be maintained," she said.
While admitting that such a large number of vacancies might temporarily impact institutional work, Rawal noted that the government would expedite the appointment process to minimize disruption.
Critiquing past practices, she mentioned that individuals with no knowledge of specific institutions were often appointed solely based on political ties.
"For a long time, people who had only done politics were appointed to solve cooperative issues. This never solved the problems. Does it make sense to appoint a career politician to resolve cooperative issues? It’s a matter of finance. Had experts been appointed, the problems would have been solved quickly."
She said that the government aims to resolve these problems through appointments based on merit and expertise.
"The government is moving forward in a different manner. We cannot proceed using the old methods," she said.
The prime minister’s secretariat said that the government removed a large number of officials at the same time to strengthen administration and provide new momentum to state bodies.
