Amending the existing regulation that requires a bachelor’s degree and five years of related experience, the government on Thursday appointed former deputy commander of the Maoist ‘People’s Liberation Army’ Chakrapani Khanal ‘Baldev’ as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s chief political adviser.

Since Khanal did not have the required qualification, the Cabinet had decided to amend Clause 22(3) of the Governance Regulation (2065 BS).

“The academic requirement of a Masters’ degree

in related field for advisers was replaced with a bachelor’s degree during Baburam Bhattarai’s premiership.

This has now been changed

to a bachelor’s degree or 15 years of experience in a

related field,” said PM

Dahal’s Personal Secretary Ramesh Malla.

The amendment has made the entry easier for other aspirants too. A large number of former Maoist combatants, who feel neglected by the party despite their sacrifice, are vying for the post of advisers to several ministers.

Prime Minister Dahal is considering appointment of Govinda Acharya as his press adviser; youth leader Ramdip Acharya as the public relations adviser; Dr Rishi Raj Adhikary as the foreign affairs adviser and Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri or Dr Shriram Poudel as the economic adviser. Chhetri is a former vice-chairman of the National Planning Com-mission and a former governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank.

Sources claimed that

Dahal has been in discussion with former chief secretary Leela Mani Paudyal to appoint him as one of his core advisers but his responsibility has yet to be finalised.