Nepal PM Balendra Shah Dismisses Labour Minister Just 15 Days After Taking Office

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has removed his Labour, Employment and Social Security Minister Dip Kumar Sah from office just 15 days after assuming power, according to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

The decision was made following a recommendation from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which alleged that Sah misused his position to benefit his wife.

RSP president Rabi Lamichhane had urged Prime Minister Shah to take action after allegations emerged that Sah was involved in the re-appointment of his wife to the Health Insurance Board after her tenure had already ended.

Officials confirmed that the party’s central disciplinary commission submitted a formal recommendation for his removal on Wednesday.

Following the recommendation, the Prime Minister relieved Sah of his duties and has reportedly taken over the responsibilities of the Labour Ministry himself.

In addition, the Prime Minister issued a warning to Health and Population Minister Nisha Mehta for allegedly failing to properly address the re-appointment issue.

Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, assumed office in March after leading a political shift that brought the RSP to power, following elections held after last year’s nationwide protests calling for anti-corruption reforms and generational change in leadership.