KATHMANDU, Aug 15: Political tensions within Bagmati Province’s Nepali Congress (NC) have resurfaced following Chief Minister Indra Baniya’s formation of a full cabinet. Baniya, who assumed office by ousting Bahadur Singh Lama through a no-confidence vote, has not included any members from Lama’s faction in his ministry, sparking dissatisfaction within the party.
The province’s 14-member cabinet now comprises six ministers from UML and eight from NC, including Baniya himself. When selecting NC ministers, Baniya bypassed all members who had opposed him in the parliamentary party elections. While only Krishna Kumar Tamang had previously been assigned a portfolio, Baniya on Friday distributed responsibilities to all seven remaining NC ministers. Key appointments include Shivaraj Adhikari as Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Urmila Nepal for Youth and Sports, and Prabhat Tamang for Finance and Planning.
Baniya elected President of NC Bagmati Province Committee
Despite the cabinet getting full shape, the Lama faction has voiced strong disapproval. Initially, Lama had resisted stepping down as chief minister after losing the parliamentary vote, citing the lack of any constitutional requirement to resign. A settlement brokered by NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba later led to Lama’s resignation on August 2, under the condition that three ministers from his faction would be included in the new cabinet. However, the faction claims that Baniya has ignored the agreement, forming a cabinet comprising his handpicked minister and bypassing prior agreement.
A provincial lawmaker from the Lama faction criticized Baniya for violating the settlement. “We extended our support based on leadership guidance, but Baniya has betrayed not only us but also President Deuba,” the lawmaker said, adding that they are monitoring how the party president responds to this unilateral move. The faction intends to judge government decisions on merit while ensuring party processes continue as per regulations.
Meanwhile, Baniya supporters argue that the Lama faction no longer has grounds for claiming representation, as they did not honor the written agreement. The party’s parliamentary secretary Min Krishna Maharjan emphasized that the appointments were made under President Deuba’s instructions and that internal divisions are not relevant at this stage.
