Kathmandu — Prime Minister Sushila Karki has defended several former interim government ministers who resigned to contest the upcoming elections, amid criticism over their short tenure in office.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly on monday, Karki said the appointments were made under sustained pressure from the younger generation, commonly referred to as Gen Z, and not for political advantage.
She said that during the formation of the interim government, Gen Z activists repeatedly urged the administration to include widely respected and influential public figures in the Cabinet. As a result, Kulman Ghising, Mahabir Pun, Jagadish Kharel, and Bablu Gupta were appointed as ministers.
According to the prime minister, all four resigned from their ministerial positions before submitting nominations for the march 5 elections. Ghising has formed a new political party, Pun is contesting as an independent candidate, while Kharel and Gupta are running as candidates of the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Resignations followed ethical standard, PM says
Karki said the appointments were made with a clear understanding that the individuals would step down if they decided to enter electoral politics. “It would be unethical to contest elections while remaining in government,” she said, adding that they were asked to resign on the day they chose to pursue political careers.
She acknowledged that she personally urged them to join the Cabinet, citing continued pressure from Gen Z groups to bring credible and popular figures into government, even if only temporarily.
Referring to Mahabir Pun, Karki said he left the government after becoming dissatisfied with the failure to enact several laws he had proposed. She noted that while Pun had sought legal reforms, the government was unable to deliver them within the limited timeframe.
Defending Jagadish Kharel and Bablu Gupta, the prime minister said they were young and politically active individuals who should not be barred from participating in elections. She said they had not acted dishonestly, made no political deals, and placed no demands on the government.
Karki further clarified that the former ministers did not all join the same political party, noting that only two of them affiliated with the Rastriya Swatantra Party. She added that none of them are currently in contact with the government or seeking any form of political favor.
She said their roles in the interim government were temporary and situational, while their decisions to contest elections were personal political choices.
