The CPN-UML has decided to continue Chet Narayan Acharya as the chief minister of Lumbini province.
Although there had been speculation that the Lumbini chief minister would be changed after the UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) reached a power-sharing agreement, UML leaders have agreed to retain Acharya as head of the provincial government.
A discussion was held at Gundu in Bhaktapur among UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Vice-Chairman Bishnu Paudel, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Chief Minister Acharya, and former chief minister Lila Giri.
Giri said that the meeting reached an agreement to continue Acharya as chief minister.
“The decision to continue Acharya as chief minister was made with my consent as well,” Giri told Setopati.
According to Acharya’s secretariat, formal discussions will now begin between the UML and the NCP on the allocation of ministries, responsibilities of ministers, and a common government action plan.
Sources said that since the number of ministries has already been restructured, both parties will begin internal preparations on which party will take charge of which ministries.
Currently, the provincial government has five UML ministers, including Chief Minister Acharya.
The ministers had resigned after the Nepali Congress withdrew its support to the government.
The UML and the NCP then agreed to form a new power-sharing arrangement.
As per the agreement, the ministers from the NCP who will join the government will now be finalized, and the provincial abinet will be reshuffled within a few days, according to Acharya’s secretariat.
