Controversy erupts as PM Sushila Karki cabinet appoints close aide to various positions

KATHMANDU — A fresh controversy has erupted around the cabinet led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki after it appointed a controversial figure with close personal ties to the prime minister to a key national institution and recommended a sitting minister for a constitutional post, raising serious concerns over misuse of executive power and political patronage.

The government has appointed Adarsha Kumar Shrestha as chairperson of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), one of Nepal’s most important conservation institutions responsible for protecting wildlife reserves, national parks, and biodiversity across the country.

According to the decision, Shrestha has been appointed for a five-year term as chair of the trust’s governing board.

Appointment Raises Nepotism Concerns

The appointment has triggered criticism because Shrestha previously served as chief personal secretary to Prime Minister Karki and had already been embroiled in controversy during his tenure in the prime minister’s secretariat.

Public backlash had erupted earlier after it was revealed that Shrestha allegedly used his official influence to appoint his wife, Sangeeta Shrestha, as a personal undersecretary-level official in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

The move had drawn widespread criticism at the time, with allegations that the prime minister’s office was being used to provide government jobs to family members and close associates.

Following the controversy, several appointments made within the secretariat were reportedly scrapped after public pressure mounted over the alleged misuse of authority.

Despite that episode, the government has now elevated Shrestha to lead the National Trust for Nature Conservation, a move critics say raises serious questions about governance standards and political accountability.

Key Conservation Institution Under Scrutiny

The National Trust for Nature Conservation plays a critical role in Nepal’s environmental management, overseeing conservation programs in areas such as Annapurna, Manaslu, and other protected regions, as well as wildlife protection initiatives.

Analysts say leadership appointments in such institutions traditionally require high credibility, conservation expertise, and independence, given their role in managing internationally significant biodiversity zones and donor-funded environmental programs.

The decision to appoint a politically connected figure with a controversial record has therefore drawn scrutiny from governance observers.

Cabinet Also Recommends Home Minister for National Assembly

In another decision likely to spark debate, the cabinet has recommended current Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal for appointment to the National Assembly of Nepal.

The recommendation has been forwarded to the president for nomination to the one vacant seat in the upper house that is filled by presidential nomination under the constitution.

Critics argue that recommending a sitting cabinet minister for the position raises concerns about political maneuvering and concentration of power, particularly when the seat is constitutionally intended to accommodate individuals with expertise in fields such as science, culture, social service, or public life.

Governance Questions Intensify

The twin decisions—appointing a close aide to a key national institution and recommending a cabinet minister for a constitutional seat—have intensified debate over political favoritism, transparency, and the ethical use of executive authority within the current government.

Governance experts warn that such decisions risk undermining public trust in state institutions, particularly when appointments appear to reward personal loyalty rather than professional merit.