KATHMANDU: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said he is ready to resign from his post if it helps the party avoid trouble.

He expressed his willingness to step down during a meeting at party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence on Monday morning, stating that if the ongoing controversy surrounding the “visit visa case” was damaging the party, he would resign.

“In the meeting, he clearly said during his briefing that if his actions were causing the party problems, he would resign and return,” said a party official close to Deuba who attended the meeting.

Lekhak mentioned that internal pressure—especially public calls for his resignation by party leaders like Shekhar Koirala—was creating unnecessary strain. The official added that Lekhak repeatedly insisted on his innocence but made it clear he would resign if his position harmed the party.

However, party president Deuba responded that there was no need for Lekhak to resign. Citing past instances where other Home Ministers had faced allegations, Deuba reportedly assured Lekhak of the party’s support.

“Other Home Ministers have also faced various accusations. Allegations come and go,” the official quoted Deuba as saying. “There is no need to resign. The party will stand by you.”

Call for disciplinary action against Shekhar and other leaders

After Lekhak expressed frustration over senior leaders of his own party demanding his resignation in public forums, some within the meeting called for disciplinary action against Shekhar Koirala and others. MPs Sunil Sharma and Rajendra Bajgain were also named as individuals who should face action.

Former General Secretary Shashank Koirala argued that everyone must abide by party discipline and urged Deuba to take this matter seriously.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dr. Shashank Koirala confirmed that he had suggested to President Deuba that Shekhar Koirala and MPs Sunil Sharma and Rajendra Bajgain face disciplinary action for publicly criticizing Home Minister Lekhak.

“We told the party president to call them in and ask what really happened. This issue needs to be resolved. What benefit does the party gain from infighting?” Shashank said. “That’s why we urged him to seek clarification.”

Deuba plans to summon Shekhar after his return to Kathmandu

According to Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire, Sher Bahadur Deuba is planning to meet Shekhar Koirala by Tuesday evening to discuss the matter of his comments against Home Minister Lekhak.

Shekhar is currently in Taplejung, Koshi Province, for a party program. Deuba will call him in for a discussion at Budhanilkantha once he returns to Kathmandu, Ghimire said.

“Shekhar Koirala is outside the capital and is expected to return by Tuesday evening. Once he does, the party president will summon him for clarification,” he added. “The question is: why did he demand a resignation before even the opposition did?”

Shekhar Koirala had publicly stated that Home Minister Lekhak should resign to facilitate a fair investigation.

Home Minister’s resignation demanded over visit visa scam

Minister Lekhak is being linked to the ongoing “visit visa scam” controversy. Following reports that large sums of money were being collected to illegally send people abroad on visit visas, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) raided the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport.

During the raid, the CIAA briefly detained Immigration Chief Tirtharaj Bhattarai and confiscated his mobile phone and other electronic devices for forensic analysis.

The incident has led to mounting pressure on Home Minister Lekhak, with calls for his resignation.

However, the Nepali Congress party has decided to shield Lekhak from the fallout, declaring it unnecessary for a minister to be held accountable for the mistakes of bureaucrats.