Political turmoil in Nepal: Parliament suspended amid financial conduct probe, Home Minister resigns

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday suspended the session of both houses of the federal parliament without calling it, just days after convening it for April 30.The President cited “special reasons” for suspending the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Government and the Council of Ministers, Presidential Office spokesperson Ritesh Kumar Shakya said. Further details were not disclosed.Senior-most member of Parliament and Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC described the government’s decision to suspend the Parliament session without convening it as “unprecedented and surprising”.

Political conflict deepens

The development comes a day after Home Minister Sudan Gurung resigned on Wednesday following allegations related to his financial conduct while in office. Gurung announced his departure on Facebook, saying questions over his investments and other matters should be investigated.He wrote, “For me morality is greater than position and there is no greater power than public confidence.”Gurung came into limelight after he ordered the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Home Minister Ramesh Writer in connection with their role during the crackdown on Gen Z protests last September.

Second minister to leave one month old government

Gurung is the second minister to leave the newly formed government. On 9 April, Prime Minister Balendra Shah, on the recommendation of the ruling Rashtriya Swatantra Party, dismissed Labor Minister Deep Kumar Shah over allegations that he had misused his position to get his wife appointed to the Health Insurance Board.An aide told Reuters that Prime Minister Shah will now look after the Home Ministry.Shah – known as Balen – and his Rashtriya Swatantra Party came to power in March, defeating traditional parties in the first general elections since last year’s violent Gen Z protests that demanded generational change and corruption-free governance. The 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician became prime minister after his three-year-old party, which promised to control corruption and provide good governance, came to power.