KATHMANDU, Nov 12: President Ramchandra Paudel on Tuesday administered the oath of office and secrecy to Surendra Labh Karn, the newly appointed Chief of Madhesh Province, during a ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas.
Karn’s appointment follows the dismissal of former Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari, who was removed from her post amid intensifying political and constitutional controversy surrounding her decision to appoint CPN-UML parliamentary leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as Chief Minister on Monday.
Bhandari’s dismissal came on the government’s recommendation, which accused her of acting in contravention of constitutional provisions. The Office of the President stated that Bhandari was relieved of her duties effective Tuesday under Article 165(1)(b) of the Constitution of Nepal.
The dispute erupted after Bhandari appointed Yadav as Chief Minister under Article 168(3) of the Constitution — a move rival parties denounced as a “blatant disregard for constitutional procedure.” Her decision triggered uproar in the Madhesh Provincial Assembly and widespread protests from opposition parties.
Opposition leaders and civil society have also challenged the appointment before the Supreme Court. According to Nepali Congress (NC) Madhesh Province President Krishna Prasad Yadav, a seven-party alliance — comprising the NC, CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), Janamat Party, JSP, and Nagarik Unmukti Party — backed by 74 provincial assembly members, have opposed the appointment. The number is a clear majority in the 107-member assembly.
The controversy deepened after reports surfaced that the swearing-in ceremony had been conducted not in the official provincial headquarters but in a resort hotel situated in a forested area along the Mahottari–Sindhuli border. Allegations emerged that the ceremony had been held under pressure, though the Office of the Province Chief has not issued an official clarification.
Former Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal had resigned last week without seeking a vote of confidence, prompting negotiations among opposition parties to form a new coalition. However, before the alliance could formally submit its claim, Bhandari appointed UML’s Yadav as Chief Minister early Monday morning — a move that ultimately led to her dismissal and the swift appointment of Surendra Labh Karn as her successor.