JANAKPURDHAM, Nov 13: Madhesh Province has plunged into political turmoil following the swearing-in of CPN-UML leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as Chief Minister at Panas Cottage in Bardibas. The seven-party alliance has termed the appointment unconstitutional and demanded its annulment while continuing a peaceful sit-in protest in front of the Madhesh Provincial Assembly in Janakpur.
After assuming office on Tuesday evening, Chief Minister Yadav flew to Kathmandu on Wednesday morning. His departure slightly eased the tension around the Madhesh Provincial Assembly, which had remained volatile since Monday.
The seven-party alliance—comprising the Nepali Congress (NC), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal, Janamat Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP), CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), and Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP)—has been staging a peaceful sit-in demanding the dismissal of the “unconstitutional” Chief Minister. The protest is scheduled to continue until Sunday.
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The alliance also issued a joint statement on Tuesday evening condemning police action against peaceful demonstrators and calling for action against those responsible for the use of force. According to JSP-Nepal’s chief whip, Ram Ashish Yadav, the interim order issued by the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday has sent a positive signal.
The petition, signed by 74 provincial lawmakers, calls for CM Yadav’s removal, arguing that his appointment was unconstitutional. The case will be heard by a full bench of the SC on Sunday. The SC has also ordered the submission of all relevant documents concerning Yadav’s appointment made on November 9.
Before flying to Kathmandu, CM Yadav visited the provincial hospital to meet protesters injured during Tuesday evening’s clashes, but they had already been discharged.
The seven-party alliance has urged the public to boycott the newly appointed Chief Minister and his Cabinet members. On Tuesday evening, at least ten demonstrators, including journalists, were injured after police baton-charged protesters outside the Madhesh Provincial Assembly.
The controversy stems from the oath-taking ceremony held at Panas Cottage by then-Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari, which opposition parties have condemned as politically, constitutionally, and morally inappropriate. Following widespread criticism, the federal government dismissed Bhandari and appointed Surendra Karn as the new Province Chief.
Currently, Madhesh Province has 104 active members in its 107-member assembly, with three lawmakers suspended. The UML has 23 seats, NC 22, JSP 18, Janamat 13, Maoist Center 9, LSP 9, and Unified Socialist 7, while the Sanghiya Samajbadi Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and NUP hold one seat each. The majority threshold to form a government is 53.
