KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s refusal to reappoint Kulman Ghising as the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Managing Director has miffed Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun ‘Pun.’
After the cabinet meeting decided to renew the term for a second time, NEA’s MD Ghising retired from office on Wednesday. The government’s decision to not reappoint him as the NEA MD has triggered demonstrations in some parts of the country, including in the capital.
Prime Minister Oli’s decision to refuse Ghising the second term has also caused conflict with his cabinet member leading the Ministry Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation that oversees the NEA.
Although the Energy Minister Pun had already told an online news portal that Ghising’s tenure as the NEA’s Managing Director would be renewed, the cabinet did not decide to reappoint the chief of the state-owned electricity generator and distributor. He retired from the NEA after the government did not extend his four-year tenure or reappoint him. Prime Minister Oli reportedly did not proceed with Energy Minister Pun’s proposal to reappoint Ghising.
“There are still some days left for his [Ghising] tenure to expire. The ministry is forwarding the proposal for his appointment for the second term before September 14. He would be appointed for the second term after the cabinet endorsed that proposal,” Energy Minister Pun had told the online news portal.
Minister Pun has been sharing with his close confidantes that Ghising’s reappointment could not happen due to Prime Minister Oli. However, sources state that Pun was not interested to really give the second term to Ghising.
Ghising had lately been facing accusations that he was putting pressure on the government by tapping to his fans in mainstream and social media platforms. As a result, many leaders were reportedly dissatisfied with Ghising, citing that he has solely taken all credit for eliminating load shedding in Nepal.
Durga Chapagain, personal aide to Energy Minister Pun, has indicated a lack of consensus on the reappointment of Ghising between Prime Minister Oli and Energy Minister Pun.
Chapagain claimed that Minister Pun had tabled a proposal in the Monday’s cabinet meeting to reappoint Ghising as the NEA’s Managing Director for a four-year tenure. He also said that the proposal was still under consideration at the Office of Prime Minister and Ministers of Council.
Writing a Facebook post, he said that he hopes the cabinet will soon decide on the proposal by considering the need of the NEA and the peoples’ voice.
However, ruling out the possibility of the direct reappointment, Prime Minister Oli’s Press Advisor Surya Thapa has already said that Ghising should come through open competition if he is interested in serving as the NEA’s Managing Director again.
