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Two ministers and one state minister of the Sudurpaschim province government have been relieved of their posts.

Province Chief Dev Raj Joshi, on the recommendation of Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, dismissed them from their posts. They are the Minister for Social Development, Jhapat Bahadur Saud, the Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Ramesh Singh Dhami, and the Minister of State for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Geeta Devi Mal.

Chief Minister Shah himself would take charge of these ministries.

At a press meet organized at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers today, the Chief Minister shared that two ministers and one state minister are relieved of their posts.

He mentioned, "With the change in power equation in the center, the province government has to be reshuffled. I am open for holding discussions and forging consensus with all parties for the development and prosperity of the province."

Three ministers of the Nepali Congress in the Karnali Province government have resigned from their posts. 

Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Bed Raj Singh, Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Krishna Bahadur BC, and Minister for Social Development, Khadga Bahadur Pokharel, jointly tendered their resignation before Chief Minister Raj Kumar Sharma today. 

The three ministers had organized a press meet before tendering their resignation.

On the occasion, Minister Singh said they resigned from their posts due to the country's changed context and ease the reconstitution of the provincial government.

The three ministers also made public achievements during their term.

They had served as the minister of the provincial government for 10 months and 15 days.

China has said that it is ready to work with the new government in Kathmandu to advance the China-Nepal Strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity, and to deliver more benefits to the people of the two countries.

On March 8, four parties– CPN(Maoist), CPN-UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party and Janata Samajbadi Party- formed a new left government. Speaking in a regular press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mao Ning said: China noted that Nepal has formed a new government coalition and reshuffled the cabinet recently. We sincerely hope that relevant parties of Nepal will work together in solidarity, advance the work related to the formation of the new government in a smooth manner, and realize political stability, economic growth and improvement of people’s livelihood.”

She further said that  as a friendly neighbor and cooperation partner, China highly values its relations with Nepal. We would like to work with the new government to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen our traditional friendship, and strengthen practical cooperation. China has become the first country to make an official comment about the formation of a new alliance in Kathmandu. For the long time, China is motivating Nepal’s communist parties to form an alliance and government. China prefers a communist government in Kathmandu in order to fulfill its interests.  

A day after the formation of a new coalition, two ministers of the CPN (Maoist Center) have been removed from the Gandaki Province government.

Surendra Raj Pandey, who was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Gandaki Province from the Nepali Congress, removed Minister for Social Development Sushila Simkhanda and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Ramesh Bahadur Jugjali.

A source said that Chief Minister Pandey removed two ministers of the CPN (Maoist Center).

Earlier on Monday, in a dramatic turn of events, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ditched his key coalition partner, Nepali Congress, to form a new alliance with the main opposition, CPN-UML.

Leaders of the new alliance have claimed that the new ruling alliance of four political parties was formed for good governance and smooth service delivery.

Sharing views with media after signing an eight-point agreement at Baluwatar on Monday evening, Deputy General Secretary of CPN (Moist Centrer), Barshaman Pun, argued the new alliance was formed as per national need and people's aspiration. The agreement was reached among the parties having common thoughts on the country's good governance, social justice and prosperity, he added.

Similarly, General Secretary of CPN-UML, Shankar Pokhrel, said that a common minimum program would be launched after giving the final shape to the Cabinet.

Allocation of ministry will be finalized after discussing with other political parties as well. "Ministry allocation is not a big deal, it will be sorted out easily," he added.

Vice-Chairman of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Dr Swarnim Wagle, informed that his party joined the government for economic discipline, accountability and effective service delivery. "There is public despair rife with economic slump and bad governance. So, we want quality and prompt service delivery, which the PM has also taken seriously," Wagle reminded.

He, however, said his party joined the government, setting conditions and preparing a certain agenda. "RSP stays in government as long as it ensures service delivery. When it fails, it opts for graceful exit," Wagle made it clear.

Wagle also shared that the RSP has the benefit of doubt in this government.

Leader of Janata Samajbadi Party, Rajendra Shrestha, viewed that his party joined the present government to give direction to the country as per the spirit of constitution. "Eight-point agreement was made in a bid to bolster federalism, good governance, social justice and pave the foundation of socialism-oriented system," he informed.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal formed a new Cabinet by inducting ministers from CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Newly appointed ministers took the oath of office and secrecy on Monday.

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Padam Giri of UML, Hit Bahadur Tamang of Maoist Center and DP Aryal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party who were appointed as the ministers without portfolio.

An Armed Police Force DSP was found hanging in Morang on Monday.

DSP Upendra Basyal, who is also the in-charge of the Dhanpalthan Rural Municipality-3-based Border Out Post (BOP) in Sorabhag, was found dead this afternoon, SP Suman Kumar Timilsina, spokesperson at the Koshi Province Police Office, Biratnagar, said.

According to him, Basyal was found hanging from a rope tied to his neck.

Police suspected that Basyal might have committed suicide.

SP Timilsina said that they are looking into the case.

The share trading has been suspended for today after the Nepal Stock Exchange index surged by 6 percent.

The Nepse benchmark index had increased by 4 percent immediately after trading opened in the share market today.

According to Nepal Stock Exchange Limited, trading was shut for 20 minutes for the first time following an upswing of the NEPSE index by 4 percent. It was suspended for 40 minutes a second time today after the index witnessed an uptick of 5 percent.

Today's trading was suspended following an increase in the Nepse index by 6 percent again, Nepse spokesperson Murahari Parajuli said. 

The Nepse index climbed by 117.70 points and reached 2078 points in today's trading.

The share price of five various companies has seen a positive circuit.

A total of 934, 919-units of shares of 237 companies were traded in the share market today with a total turnover of Rs 375 million.

The share prices of 230 companies climbed while that of only two companies slumped in the share trading today.