UML quits Bagmati govt, withdraws support

KATHMANDU, July 8: The CPN-UML has quit the Bagmati Province Government and has also withdrawn its support to the government.

On Monday, five ministers, including CPN-UML leader Jagannath Thapaliya, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, arrived at the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers and submitted their resignation letters to Chief Minister Shalikram Jamkattel  along with the withdrawal of their support to his government.

The UML ministers who have resigned are the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Land and Administration, Prakash Shrestha, Minister of Forests and Environment  Keshav Prasad Pokharel, Minister of Health, Rameshwar Shrestha, and Minister of Water Supply, Energy and Irrigation Ekalal Shrestha,  along with Economic Affairs and planning  Minister Thapaliya.

CM Jamkattel, who has fallen into a minority, will seek a vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly.

Ratna Prasad Dhakal, chief whip of the Maoist Center, said that CM Jamkattel has decided not to resign and instead seek a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly as decided by a meeting of the Maoist Center Bagmati Province Parliamentary Party held on Sunday at the party's central office at Paris Danda, Kathmandu. 

Chief Whip Dhakal said that even though the party meeting has decided to seek a vote of confidence, the date for the same has not been fixed yet.