The Ministry of Finance has rescheduled the presentation and interview for the shortlisted candidates for the Chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) who were absent on Sunday. The Financial Sector Management and Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance has issued a notice, calling the absent candidates to appear on Wednesday, June 19, at 9 AM.

On Sunday, only two of the five shortlisted candidates, Santosh Narayan Shrestha and Mukti Nath Shrestha, attended the presentation and interview. The remaining three candidates boycotted the interview. These three absentees are reportedly aligned with the ruling Maoist party.

The boycott by the three candidates is believed to be orchestrated by Finance Minister Barshaman Pun after it became evident that the Chairman position would likely go to a candidate from the major coalition partner, the CPN-UML.

The boycott has raised legal questions regarding the selection process. Legal experts argue that the selection and recommendation committee is required to submit at least three names to the government. With only two candidates attending the interview, some legal experts suggest that the ongoing process is invalidated and that a new selection process should commence. Despite these differing legal opinions, the Ministry of Finance has decided to continue the current process and has summoned the absent candidates for Wednesday.

The three candidates who were absent on Sunday—Krishna Bahadur Karki, Chiranjibi Chapagain, and Dr. Nabaraj Adhikari,—have been given a new date for their presentation and interview. Should they fail to appear again on Wednesday, further uncertainty will arise regarding the continuation of the current selection process for the SEBON Chairman.