KATHMANDU: The cabinet’s decision to promote Major General Ashok Sigdel to the rank of Lieutenant General means he is certain to succeed Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma upon the latter’s retirement in nine months.
The Nepal Army has a tradition of elevating the senior-most Lieutenant General to the position of CoAS.
The cabinet meeting held on Thursday endorsed the recommendation of the Nepal Army headquarters to promote Sigdel to the rank of Lieutenant General. CoAS Sharma is concluding his term on September 9, 2024.
The Nepal Army has two positions for Lieutenant Generals. With the imminent retirement of the senior-most Lieutenant General Sitaram Khadka in a few days, Sigdel is set to become the senior-most senior Lieutenant General in the army.
Sigdel was promoted to the rank of Major General in September 2019.
The army headquarters had initially intended to promote Major General Tara Dhwoj Pandey to the rank of Lieutenant General. However, Pandey down after the army headquarters initiated an investigation into his date of birth.
Sigdel joined the Nepal Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1986.
Himal Press
07 Dec 2023
