Gandaki Province Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali on Tuesday sacked Minister for Energy and Irrigation Hari Sharan Acharya, accusing him of supporting main opposition CPN-UML in the run-up to the November 20 polls.

Chandi Prasad Aryal, spokesperson at the Governor's Office, said that the recommendation by the chief minister to sack Minister Acharya has been approved by Governor Prithvi Man Singh Gurung.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday evening had directed Chief Minister Nepali to dismiss Minister Acharya for electioneering in favour of a UML candidate.

Talking briefly with the Post, Acharya said he was unaware of reasons for the dismissal, refuting allegations that he campaigned in support of a UML candidate.

Acharya was elected provincial lawmaker from the then Sanghiya Samajbadi Party from Gorkha-2 (a). Nepali Congress supported him in the earlier provincial assembly polls.

Acharya had filed a rebel candidacy after his party picked Phanidra Devkota as an official candidate for the polls. Acharya, who later withdrew his candidacy, has been accused of supporting the UML candidate.