Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in the capacity of the chancellor of Tribhuvan University, on Thursday appointed Professor Keshar Jung Baral as its vice-chancellor.

An open call was made for the position claiming that the vice-chancellor would be appointed fairly. However, Baral, close to the CPN (Maoist Centre), landed the position.

As many as 43 candidates, most of them university teachers, had applied for the position. Of them, 14 were shortlisted and interviewed. They also presented their visions of how they would lead the country’s oldest and largest university. A three-member search committee headed by Minister for Education Ashok Kumar Rai had recommended Chitra Bahadur Budhathoki, Baral and Tankanath Dhamala for the position.

Baral got the position though he was recommended in the second place, after Budhathoki. He is among the few academics to become the vice-chancellor twice.

In 2007, Baral was appointed the vice-chancellor of Pokhara University for four years in the Maoist quota. Senior officials at the ministry said it was evident that Baral would grab the position because he is Dahal's favourite. "A section of the Maoist Centre was batting for Budhathoki," said the official.

Educationists say Baral's appointment has proved that the open call was nothing but an eyewash. "The appointment has showcased blatant politicisation [in the university]," wrote Mana Prasad Wagle, a professor at Kathmandu University, on Facebook.

Opposition lawmakers on Thursday claimed that the prime minister had lied by claiming that a free and fair process would be adopted in the vice-chancellor appointment. "Ironically, the selection process is not transparent," said Yogesh Bhattarai, a CPN-UML lawmaker.

Baral holds a PhD in Capital Structure and Cost of Capital from Delhi University. He is a professor of finance at the Tribhuvan University.

He is the 20th vice-chancellor of the university since its establishment in 1959.