Madhesh Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh relieved all eight ministers of state of their responsibilities on Tuesday following criticism over the formation of a 20-member Council of Ministers.

According to the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, the province head has been informed of the decision to downsize the provincial Council of Ministers.

Tikaram Uprety, personal secretary to Madhesh Province Head Sumitra Subedi Bhandari, confirmed that the office has received a letter from the Chief Minister’s Office on relieving the eight ministers of state of their duties.

Chief Minister Singh decided to remove all ministers for state reportedly as per the agreement among the ruling parties at the centre.

On July 6, the chief minister inducted Rekha Thakur, Nilam Kumari Rajak, Rambabu Yadav, Shambhu Sah, and Mohammad Zaid Alam as ministers for state Tuesday. Prior to this, Keshav Rai, Sharada Devi Thapa, and Ranju Kumari Mandal Khang were appointed as ministers for state.