Interim PM Sushila Karki Appoints Personal Aide Adarsha Shrestha as Chairman of NTNC

KATHMANDU — In one of her final major administrative moves before handing over power, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has appointed her Chief Personal Secretary, Adarsha Kumar Shrestha, as the Chairman of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).

Prime Minister Karki, acting in her capacity as the Patron of the Trust, nominated Shrestha for a five-year term. The position had been vacant following the resignation of Ain Bahadur Shahi. The appointment was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Press Advisor, Ram Rawal.

A Reward for Loyalty Amidst Controversy

The appointment has immediately drawn attention due to Shrestha’s history within the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. He had previously faced significant public scrutiny and was briefly removed from the Secretariat following allegations of nepotism regarding the appointment of his wife, Sangeeta Shrestha, to a government position.

Despite past controversies, PM Karki defended the move in a recent interview with the state-owned National News Agency (RSS), describing Shrestha as a cornerstone of her administration’s success.

“In this stage of my life, 75 percent of my success is due to Adarsha. It was because of his contribution that we were able to function,” the Prime Minister stated, praising his expertise in law and information technology.

Shrestha, a former court official, previously served as Karki’s private assistant during her tenure as Chief Justice. The Prime Minister noted that Shrestha’s deep understanding of legal and technological frameworks allowed a small team to perform the work usually handled by dozens of staff members.

Home Minister Recommended for National Assembly

In the same cabinet meeting held today, the government also recommended Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal for nomination to the National Assembly. The recommendation has been forwarded to the President for formal approval.

These appointments come at a sensitive time as the Election Commission prepares to finalize the proportional representation results, which will lead to the formation of a new government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).