In a surprising turn of events, Amresh Kumar Singh has been excluded from the cabinet led by Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah. Initially, Singh was expected to be handed the Ministry of Industry. However, Balen decided to retain the ministry himself, along with the Ministry of Defence.
Balen Shah, who heads the new government, has chosen to keep both the Defence and Industry portfolios under his direct control. This move leaves Singh without the ministerial role that many had anticipated he would receive.
Amresh Singh: A long political journey
Amresh Kumar Singh is a well-known figure in Nepalese politics. He began his political career with the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal (MJF-N) before joining the Nepali Congress.
Singh has a strong electoral record, having been elected as Member of Parliament from Sarlahi 4 after defeating Congress president Gagan Kumar Thapa. He has served three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives representing Sarlahi under the Nepali Congress ticket.
In 2014, he also won a seat in the 2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly from Sarlahi 6. During his tenure in parliament, Singh was a member of the State Management and Good Governance Committee.
Controversies and public protests
Singh’s political career has been marked by several high-profile controversies. During a protest in Kathmandu, he, along with 13 others including Upendra Yadav, was arrested for burning copies of the Interim Constitution. The act was meant to highlight what they claimed were the constitution’s failures in addressing Madhesi demands.
He has also made headlines for confrontational acts in parliament. On one occasion, Singh publicly stripped in a parliamentary meeting after being denied the opportunity to speak.
Singh has been openly critical of Balen Shah. At one point, he challenged the mayor in parliament, demanding the demolition not only of a scrap warehouse but also of significant government buildings, including Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister’s residence.
He even supported then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in pushing for action against Shah.