The government has revoked all the political appointments made by the erstwhile Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government after August 30, 2017, in a move likely to spark fresh confrontation with the opposition.

Government sources, however, said that the appointment of seven state chiefs (governors) remains unchanged but the KP Sharma Oli-led administration was studying the constitutional and legal ramifications of such a decision.

With the move, the government can make hundreds of political appointments at various levels to engage party loyalists and cadres. But the Cabinet meeting did not discuss the guidelines for new appointments. The Oli government is under pressure from loyalists and cadres to appoint them to the plum posts, a senior official said.

A Cabinet meeting late Wednesday annulled the appointments citing that the preceding administration had made the appointments after the election results were out.

With the decision, five additional inspectors general of the Armed Police Force also tendered their resignation on Thursday.

AIGs Janaki Raj Bhattarai, Subodh Kumar Adhikari, Nirakarbikram Shah, Khadananda Chaudary and Rajesh Shrestha tendered their resignation to APF Inspector General Sailendra Khanal. The Deuba government had created five additional posts of AIG in the force with an aim to deploy them in the provinces.

The opposition Nepali Congress remarked that the government’s move had invited a confrontation. Organising a news conference on Thursday, NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma charged the government with making arbitrary moves.

Axe has fallen on dozens of political appointments including some high profile jobs such as the CEO of the National Reconstruction Authority, and chairman of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, among others. In principle, the decision has been taken, said one minister.

The appointments by the caretaker government had become controversial even as the permission of the Election Commission was sought in respect for the election code of conduct.

“All the political appointments to various government authorities, organisations, councils, board committees and organisations under Company Act made by Nepal government after enforcement of the code of conduct for the federal and provincial elections on August 30, 2017, have been annulled,” said  government Spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Gokul Prasad Banskota.

As per the decision, political appointments of the NRA CEO, the Nepal Telecommunications Autho-rity chairperson, chairpersons of all the district town planning committees, all the district presidents of youth council, members of Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Stock Exchange, Guthi Sansthan, Film Development Board, and appointments to the Gorkha-patra Sansthan are revoked.