In 1806, the self denounced King
Rana Bahadur Shah was made
Mukhtiyar (chief authority) and
Bhimsen Thapa tried to implement his schemes through Rana Bahadur. On the night of 25 April 1806,
Sher Bahadur Shah, step-brother of Mukhtiyar in desperation drew a sword and killed Rana Bahadur Shah before being cut down by nearby courtiers,
Bam Shah and
Bal Narsingh Kunwar, also allies of Bhimsen. It triggered the Bhandarkhal massacre on the royal garden. On the grounds of the chaotic situation of the
Bhandarkhal massacre, Bhimsen rose to the title of
Mukhtiyar. The position of
Mukhtiyar was under Pajani (Annual Renewal) system. During the annual muster of 1833, King
Rajendra Bikram Shah delayed the retainment of Bhimsen's own position as the
Mukhtiyar. On the false charge of murder of infant Prince Devendra on 1837, Bhimsen, his brother Ranbir Singh, his nephew Mathbar Singh, their families, the court physicians, Ekdev and Eksurya Upadhyay, and his deputy Bhajuman Baidya, with a few more of the nearest relatives of the
Thapas were incarcerated, proclaimed outcasts, and their properties confiscated. Immediately after the incarceration of the Thapas, a new government with joint
Mukhtiyars was formed with
Ranganath Paudel as the head of civil administration, and Dalbhanjan Pande and
Rana Jang Pande as joint heads of military administration. After about three months in power, under pressure from the opposing factions, the King removed Rana Jang as
Mukhtiyar and Ranganath Paudel, who was favorably inclined towards the Thapas, was chosen as the sole
Mukhtiyar. However, Ranganath Poudel, finding himself unsupported by the King, resigned from the
Mukhtiyari, which was then conferred on
Pushkar Shah; but Puskhar Shah was only a nominal head, and the actual authority was bestowed on Ranajang Pande. At the beginning of 1839, Ranjang Pande was made the sole
Mukhtiyar. but Ranajang's inability to control the general lawlessness in the country forced him to resign from the office, which was then conferred on Puskar Shah, based on Senior Queen
Samrajya Lakshmi's recommendation. There was also a brief army mutiny in June 1840.
Brian Hodgson sent an indiscriminating report of mutiny to Governor General and he demanded the dissolution of the reigning government. Pushkar Shah and his Pande associates were dismissed by the King, and
Fateh Jung Shah was appointed Mukhtiyar in November 1840. The Queen, seeking support of her own son's claims to the throne over those of Surendra, invited
Mathabar Singh Thapa back after almost six years in exile. He was greeted with a grand welcome and was offered to lead the government. By December 1843, Mathabar Singh was appointed prime minister. Thus, the first
Mukhtiyar to title himself as a prime minister, as per the British convention, was Mathabar Singh Thapa. ==List of Mukhtiyars of
Kingdom of Nepal==