Gauri Kumari Yadav resigns after LPG shortage remarks spark industry backlash

Kathmandu, September 10, 2026 — Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari Yadav has resigned from her post, submitting her resignation to Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Thursday.

Yadav’s resignation came a day after she sparked controversy with remarks directed at LPG industrialists amid an ongoing cooking gas shortage.

Speaking on Wednesday, Yadav accused LPG industrialists of failing to coordinate with the government to address the supply crisis. She also said those responsible should be “taken to court” over their role in the shortage.

Her remarks drew criticism from LPG bottlers and industry representatives, who condemned the statement and accused the minister of unfairly targeting private-sector businesses while the country continues to face disruptions in cooking gas supplies.

The backlash increased pressure on Yadav following her comments and came just a day before she submitted her resignation.

Yadav’s secretariat has said that she resigned for personal reasons. In a statement following her resignation, she thanked all those who provided support, cooperation and goodwill during her tenure at the ministry.

However, neither Yadav nor the Prime Minister’s Office has officially said that the controversy surrounding her remarks directly contributed to her decision to resign.

The resignation comes as the government continues to deal with disruptions in LPG supplies, with authorities working to maintain the availability of cooking gas in the market.