KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has criticized the Prime Minister Balendra Shah-led government, calling its political appointments hypocritical.

Pokharel sarcastically questioned the administration’s “select the capable” slogan following the appointment of former secretary Kishor Thapa—a past mayoral rival of Shah—as the TU Service Commission Chairman.

He argued that using ordinances to clear positions for close allies exposes the government’s true character, especially after it banned student unions under the guise of removing politics from universities.