Sudhan Gurung: Discontent in the Rastriya Swatantra Party Over Home Minister’s Activism
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During the ongoing Jan Ji movement, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has remained highly active, particularly visible in efforts related to the arrest of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister themselves.
He is frequently visiting various subordinate offices within the capital and is also active outside the Kathmandu Valley.
Among ministers in the current government, his external active presence is especially notable.
Consequently, some have described him as the single most active minister in executing government actions.
However, his activism is not without controversy. Members of his own party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa), have expressed dissatisfaction.
Why Are There Complaints About the Home Minister to Prime Minister Balendra Shah?
After being elected as a lawmaker, Sudhan Gurung drew attention by personally engaging with public-related tasks at various offices and ministries.
Upon becoming Home Minister, a video circulated showing him clearing vehicles from roads himself to make way for the public and prevent their suffering abroad.
Recently, Minister Gurung posted a picture on Facebook taken at 10:06 pm showing him with the Ministry Secretary, along with the caption: “Home Secretary Rajkumar Shrestha has been working diligently following our entrusted responsibilities. Late nights, overtime, and zero complaints.”
Image source, SudanGurung/facebook
Previously, he had posted a photo of himself sleeping on a sofa with the caption: “No construction is greater than the builder, no government is above the people.”
He also recently shared an image of him shaking hands with an Armed Police soldier, accompanied by the words: “The support of a hand is greater than the height of a salute; where public servants are respected, there lies the dignity of the state.”
But many have criticized these activities as mere stunts. Questions about his actions arose during Raswapa’s parliamentary party meeting.
Legislators from Raswapa have expressed dissatisfaction due to his recent tours across various districts. They raised these concerns in discussions with Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
Madhukumar Chaulagain, a lawmaker from Kavre, is among those voicing concerns. He said, “Due to dissatisfaction, he is running around the country collecting information on multiple issues, but the local parliamentarians and representatives should have been better informed.” He added, “It would have been better to include or inform local representatives before proceeding.”
Home Minister’s Tour Prompted by Minister Lamsal’s Request
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Gurung faced criticism for his direct role in the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
He later publicized a warrant for the arrest of former minister Deepak Khadka on his Facebook page, related to an asset cleansing investigation.
Since then, he has been actively touring different districts.
Reports indicate he has been inspecting various under-construction road projects and providing directives during these visits.
Some have criticized his activities alleging the tours are inappropriate and mainly aimed at gaining attention, disregarding jurisdiction.
Image source, SudanGurung/facebook
He inspected the Daunne section of the Narayangadh-Butwal highway, the Butwal-Gorusinge section, the Nagdhunga-Mugling highway, and in Kavre, the BP Highway section damaged by flooding from the Roshi River.
Director General of the Road Department, Vijay Jaisi, accompanied him and explained that Home Minister Gurung’s visits were at the request of the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
“Despite prior agreements, there has been a shortage of construction materials and raw resources for various road projects, causing delays in progress,” said Jaisi. “The shortage endangers the safety of construction workers and has caused problems such as fire outbreaks at crusher plants, which is why the Home Minister was sent to inspect the sites.”
Particularly, shortages of soil, boulders, and gravel have affected the work on the Nagdhunga-Mugling and Butwal-Gorusinge sections.
During his tour, complaints emerged regarding jurisdictional conflicts among federal, provincial, and local levels, as well as competing interests over the extraction of riverbed materials.
What Are the Outcomes of the Home Minister’s Tour?
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Officials indicate that Home Minister Gurung’s Kavre visit was related to disaster risk reduction.
He was accompanied by concerned officials to identify locations vulnerable to risk during the visit.
A video circulating shows him stating: “We are trying to figure out how to rescue citizens at risk due to landslides or floods, understand the geographic terrain, and plan for air evacuations if required.”
This responsibility falls under his ministry. Yet, what results has his visit brought regarding the construction delays?
Director General Jaisi says, “Although there are legal ambiguities, since the Home Minister’s visit, efforts are ongoing to open roads through dialogue with all local stakeholders.”
During a review of the Butwal-Gorusinge road section, a local reportedly informed the minister that the Nepal Electricity Authority’s failure to relocate poles on time was causing issues, and urged collaboration.
According to Director General Jaisi, such delays have been seen across road sections from the Lumbini Province to various locations.
Officials state that a powerful minister’s field visits can significantly influence the concerned agencies and potentially expedite work.
The Director General explained, “There is a big difference between receiving information from a third party and personally inspecting the site. Hearing problems directly from the location makes faster resolution more likely.”
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