Sudhan Resigns as Home Minister Following Demand for Investigation Committee Formation
Sudhan Gurung has resigned from his position as Home Minister. He had met twice with Prime Minister Balen Shah and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Ravi Lamichhane, proposing the formation of an investigation committee.
On 9th Baisakh in Kathmandu, RSP Chairperson Ravi Lamichhane’s sole agenda during two meetings with Home Minister Sudhan Gurung on Tuesday was securing his own position. There was significant pressure to hastily remove Minister of Labor Deepak Sah from his post. Following allegations that Sah appointed his wife as a member of the Health Insurance Board, questions arose, and the team supporting Prime Minister Balen removed Sah within 13 days without allowing detailed clarification beyond initial inquiries.
As public questions intensified regarding opaque assets unreported in Gurung’s property disclosures, the Home Minister grew increasingly uneasy. On Tuesday, Sudhan met twice each with Prime Minister Balen and party Chair Lamichhane to present his stance — that a formal investigation committee should be formed to examine his assets and the background of their acquisition. Subsequently, necessary actions would be taken based on the committee’s findings. A member of the Prime Minister’s team noted, “Within the party, there was sentiment to give Sudhan another chance, but the Prime Minister deemed resignation as the appropriate path at this time.”
Instead of Sudhan, DP Aryal was initially proposed as Home Minister, but Lamichhane felt that, given the recent political shifts influenced by Sudhan’s actions, he should be given some time to continue working. However, party leaders warned that Sudhan’s approach could soon trigger political instability. The revelation that the shares Gurung purchased in two microinsurance companies did not appear in his asset declaration, combined with his association with controversial individuals, raised questions about governance under Balen’s administration.
In the assets he publicly declared, Home Minister Gurung listed hundreds of ropani of land and 89 tolas of gold; however, their sources were not transparently presented. He initially failed to disclose founder shares valued at NPR 5 million in two microinsurance firms, which led to legal scrutiny. On Monday, Gurung claimed the funds used to purchase these shares were loans, yet his asset statement only indicated ancestral property, business, and investments as sources. Since Gurung, a public official, did not report his 25,000 shares each in Liberty Microlife Insurance and Star Microinsurance companies within his asset declaration, questions of both legal and ethical nature have been raised against him.
Following the public disclosure of his opaque assets, Sudhan Gurung promptly submitted his resignation. Although he cited ethical reasons for stepping down, the government retains the option to conduct further necessary investigations.