Kathmandu, Sept 23: Former Secretary Dwarika Nath Dhungel on Monday took to social media to indirectly criticize newly appointed Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, writing: “Mr. Kulman (Ghising) continued the flawed system. When an employee of an organization is later given ministerial responsibility over the same organization, how can it not lead to such outcomes? It should be remembered that while Kulman may have provided leadership on Ujyaalo Nepal, portraying it as if it were the result of only one person’s effort and deifying him seems to have inflated his ego—and perhaps that is why he acted the way he did. Otherwise, Hitendra would not have been affected.”
Dhungel’s remarks were aimed at Minister Ghising’s recent transfer of Mr Hitendra Dev Shakya, Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), a powerfull state-owned energy operator. Soon after assuming office, Ghising reassigned Shakya — who himself had once replaced Ghising as NEA chief. However, before Mr. Shakya’s removal, the Energy Ministry did not raise any questions or cite any allegations of incapacity or other reasons.
Both Ghising and Shakya are engineers who rose to the top leadership of the NEA, but their exits from the Authority were marred by controversies. Ghising was previously removed in what was widely viewed as a political vendetta, while this time it was Shakya who was abruptly transferred by Ghising.
Ghising, who became minister following the “Gen-Z Movement,” reassigned his long-time rival Shakya to the Water and Energy Commission and appointed Mr Manoj Silwal as the new NEA Executive Director.
The power struggle between Ghising and Shakya is not new. During Ghising’s first tenure as Executive Director, Shakya worked under him as Deputy Executive Director and, according to NEA staff, played an important role in Ghising’s success. Later, after Ghising’s removal in 2020, the then KP Sharma Oli government appointed Shakya first as Acting Executive Director and then as full-time chief in early 2021.
However, when Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ became prime minister, then-energy minister Pampha Bhusal reassigned Shakya to the Water and Energy Commission and reinstated Ghising as NEA chief in August 2021. Shakya challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, but the case dragged on for years without interim relief.
In March 24, 2025, the KP Sharma Oli government once again dismissed Ghising and reappointed Shakya, prompting Ghising himself to file a case in the Supreme Court, which also declined to grant him interim relief.
Ghising’s term was due to expire in August 10, 2025, but after the Gen-Z protests, Prime Minister Sushila Karki appointed Mr Ghising as Energy Minister. Shortly after assuming his new role, he transferred Shakya again and appointed Silwal to lead NEA.
Even a Gen-Z-led mob vandalized and set fire to Hitendra’s personal residence. He has repeatedly clarified that he has no familial relationship with Radhika Shakya (KP Oli’s wife) and that he was intentionally dragged into politics.
Observers have described the move as an act of retaliation. While Ghising was once the victim of political revenge, he has now been accused of exacting revenge himself by removing Shakya before he could even convene a board meeting.
Many believe this decision could politically backfire on Ghising. Former NEA engineer Madhukar Basnet, who has worked under Ghising, Shakya, and Silwal, expressed disappointment on Facebook, writing: “In my view, Ghising has done wrong with Hitendra sir. He is more capable than the others. This decision could politically backfire on Kulman sir. I am not a worshipper of power; I am a lover of truth.” #nepal #kulman
