Nepal Airlines Corporation Executive Chairman, Madan Kharel resigned on Sunday in what is believed to be a result of his growing rift with the Tourism Minister, Yogesh Bhattarai.

Calls made to Kharel’s phone by the Post to confirm the development went unanswered.

However, sources at the Ministry of Tourism confirmed Kharel’s resignation.

According to sources, Bhattarai, on multiple occasions, had asked Kharel to resign and even questioned his ability to run the national flag carrier.

On September 17, 2018, the federal cabinet had appointed Kharel as the executive chairman, leaving the then Managing Director, Sugat Ratna Kansakar as a ceremonial CEO with little decision-making authority.

Kharel, who had previously served as the managing director of Nepal Airlines from 2012 to 2015, had resigned in March 2015.