Dahal, Oli intensify efforts to solicit support of Unified Socialist to new alliance

Published On: March 6, 2024 09:00 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

NC withdraws its support to NC-led government, provincial governments in trouble after NC-Maoist Center alliance breaks down

KATHMANDU, March 6: Top leaders of the ruling parties–CPN(Maoist Center) and CPN-UML– have intensified their efforts to solicit support of the CPN (Unified Socialist) to the new government.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who broke alliance with Nepali Congress (NC) on Monday, visited Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter’s residence in Koteshwor on Tuesday evening. He was accompanied by his second-in-command in the party Narayankaji Shrestha, CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli and UML leaders Bishnu Paudel and Shankar Pokharel.

The top leaders of the UML and Maoist Center reportedly asked Chairman Nepal to join the new government comprising Maoist Center, UML, Janata Samajbadi Party and Rastriya Swatantra Party.

In response, Chairman Nepal said that he would discuss the issue within his party. Chairman Nepal expressed their displeasure saying that the Maoist Centre broke the alliance without informing them.

On Monday evening, UML Chairman Oli had also called and asked Chairman Nepal to participate in the government. The new ruling coalition has decided to let other parties join in the government.

Sources said the Maoist Center and UML are holding talks with Loktantrik Samajbadi Party to secure majority seats in parliament to continue the current Dahal-led government.

Meanwhile, NC has decided to withdraw its support to the government led by Dahal.

A Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the party held at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence on Tuesday decided to withdraw the support given to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

After the meeting, NC Vice President Dhanraj Gurung said, “We supported Pushpa Kamal Dahal. We gave the vote of confidence. We have now withdrawn our support to the government effective from today.”

PM Dahal broke the coalition with NC on Monday and formed a new alliance with the CPN-UML. He has formed a new cabinet after dismissing ministers from all parties, including the NC.

The change in coalition at the center has triggered changes in provincial governments as well.

In Karnali province, NC has decided to quit the Karnali provincial government. Soon after the NC withdrew its support to the government, ministers representing the NC in the Karnali Province government resigned en masse on Tuesday.

They tendered their resignation a day after the ruling CPN (Maoist Center) broke the alliance with the NC. Three NC leaders Bedraj Singh (Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning), Krishna Bahadur BC (Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment) and Khadka Bahadur Pokharel (Minister for Social Development) were part of the Karnani provincial government as ministers.

NC joined the Karnali Province government on April 20, last year.

Before quitting the government, three participating ministers from the NC held a press conference on Tuesday. In the press conference, the outgoing Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Singh said that they have decided to leave the government in the province after the political equation in the center changed following the Maoist Center’s decision to forge a new alliance with the CPN-UML.

“After breaking the alliance with the NC, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal decided to remain in the government with the support of other parties,” he said, "We have decided to quit the government as per the instruction received from our parliamentary party."

Similarly, Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah suspended three Maoist Center ministers. In response to the recent shift in political dynamics at the central level, Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister (CM) Kamal Bahadur Shah has suspended three ministers belonging to the CPN (Maoist Center).

The suspended ministers are Tourism Minister Ramesh Dhami, Minister for Social Development Jhapat Saud, and State Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Gita Devi Mal.

CM Shah’s decision comes in the wake of the Maoist Center terminating its coalition with the Nepali Congress and forging an alliance with the CPN-UML, Janata Samajbadi Party, and the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Currently, there are 18 lawmakers from the Nepali Congress, 11 from CPN (Maoist Center), 10 from UML, seven from Nagarik Unmukti Party, four from CPN (Unified Socialist), and one from RPP, along with an independent lawmaker in the Sudurpaschim Province.

Provincial governments in remaining other provinces have also fallen in difficult situations following the decision of the Maoist Center to break its alliance with the NC. The provincial governments in Koshi and Lumbini are led by NC leaders, while the provincial government is led by Janata Samajbadi Party leaders.