Sudurpashchim Province Chief Minister (CM) Trilochan Bhatta relieved Minister for Social Development Dirgha Sodari of his duties on Tuesday. Provincial Assembly member Krishna Raj Subedi has been appointed for the ministerial berth the same day.

CM Bhatta said that Sodari was removed from his post as the latter worked against ‘professional ethics’. He, however, did not divulge details.

A source at the Office of Chief Minister said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

called CM Bhatta to Kathmandu and directed him to remove Sodari from his post. CM Bhatta went to the national Capital on Monday and met with PM Oli. The head of the provincial executive removed Sodari from his post soon after he returned to Dhangadhi on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) provincial committee also suspended Sodari’s general membership of the party. Sodari was elected to the provincial assembly from Kailali-4 (A) as then CPN-UML member last year. NCP Sudurpashchim Province Chief Karna Thapa said Sodari was stripped off the party membership for working against ‘professional ethics’, but he also refused to elaborate on the issue.

The NCP leaders and activists are said to have complained to PM Oli against Sodari for his involvement in financial irregularities soon after he was appointed as the provincial minister. Sodari came under fire from various quarters after his vehicle had collided with a motorcycle at Badhaipur along the East-West Highway in Kailali on November 9. Three persons, including jeep driver Dhwojendra Shah, passenger Ayushma and motorcycle rider Surendra Chanda were injured in the incident. Sodari, however, was not in the vehicle when the accident occured. 

Reacting to the decision, Sodari told the Post that he was relieved from the post due to the factional politics within the then UML. “A faction within the party was dissatisfied after I was appointed minister. Conspiracies were being hatched against me since then,” he said, refuting charges that he misused power and authority. Sodari is considered to be close to NCP leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and Sudurpashchim in-charge of the party Bhim Rawal. His successor Subedi was also elected from Kailali-4 (B) from the then UML party.

On November 2, Province 3 Chief Minister Dormani Poudel had sacked Minister for Physical Infrastructure Keshav Sthapit of his duties owing to differences between the two.