Kathmandu: Nepal’s Premier Baburam Bhattarai has appointed Lilamani Poudel, who is considered close to China, as the new Chief Secretary, superseding several top- rank officers.
The UCPN (Maoist)-led Cabinet on Sunday named Poudel, Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), to the post of Chief Secretary, despite differences with the Joint Democratic Madhesi Front (JDMF) over the issue.
Poudel, the former Consul General of Nepal to Lhasa, the capital of China’s Tibet Autonomous region, and also the advisor to Nepal China Chamber of Commerce and Industries — is well known for his close links with the northern neighbour.
A couple of years ago when Poudel was serving as Secretary in the Home Ministry, the administration had cracked down on the Tibetan activists as they organised peaceful protests in and around Kathmandu.
After Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire retires on August 5, Poudel will automatically be elevated to the post, according to the Cabinet sources. Poudel is placed at the eighth spot in the seniority among the government secretaries, with Shanker Koirala, Secretary at the Election Commission, at number one position in the hierarchy.
Koirala on Monday tendered his resignation in protest against the government decision.
“I have tendered my resignation as the government has appointed a junior secretary to the top post, and my resignation is to keep high the morale of the bureaucrats,” he told PTI after quitting the post.
Three other senior secretaries are also learnt to have decided to quit to oppose the Prime Minister’s move. (PTI)