The government removed Madhesh Province Head Sumitra Subedi Bhandari and recommended Surendra Labh as the new head of the province.

A Cabinet meeting on Monday decided to remove the province head Bhandari and forward Labh’s name to President Ramchandra Paudel for appointment, government spokesperson and Minister for Communications Jagadish Kharel said.

The decision follows growing controversy over Bhandari’s role in appointing chief minister in the Province on Monday. She has been accused of appointing CPN-UML’s Saroj Kumar Yadav as chief minister early in the morning on Monday against the constitutional provision.

Labh, who holds a PhD in economics, is known for his expertise in political and economic affairs of the Madhesh region.

He also served as a member of the National Planning Commission in 2021 and taught for many years at Ramswarup Ramsagar Multiple Campus in Janakpur.