Four political parties forge a new alliance to lead Madhesh Province government

Published On: May 13, 2024 08:20 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, May 13: Madhesh Province is in the process of getting a new government consisting of four political parties after the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN-UML withdrew their support to the provincial government on Sunday.

Following the latest development, the CPN (Maoist Center) and the CPN-UML are looking for support from Janamat Party and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party to form a new government in Madhesh Province. Madhesh provincial government led by Janata Samajwadi Party’s leader and Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav has fallen into minority after the withdrawal of support by the two political parties.

The CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN-UML quit the provincial government after the Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal split into two factions with the registration of a new party – Janata Samajwadi Party – under the leadership of Ashok Rai.

Last month, the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party quit the Saroj Kumar Yadav-led Madhesh provincial government. Likewise, the Nepali Congress also withdrew its support, citing the change in the political power equation at the center. However, Chief Minister Yadav managed to gain the trust vote of 61 lawmakers, a clear majority in the 107-member assembly.

But with the latest development, the provincial government has fallen into minority after two ministers from the CPN (Maoist Center), Bharat Kumar Sah and Yubraj Bhattarai, tendered their resignation on Sunday. Sah, who served as the Minister for Forest and Environment, and Bhattarai, the Minister for Industry and Tourism, stepped down from their respective positions as per the party’s decision.

Likewise, four ministers from the CPN-UML also submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Yadav on the same day. UML’s parliamentary party leaders including chief minister’s namesake Saroj Kumar Yadav, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Development; Rajkumar Lekhi, Minister for Home Affairs, Communications and Law; Pramod Jaiswal, Minister for Education and Culture; Shatrudhan Prasad Singh, Minister for Health and Population, stepped down from their respective positions.

After the resignation of the ministers representing the ruling parties and withdrawal of support to the provincial government, Chief Minister Yadav will now have to take a vote of confidence within 30 days.

There are 25 MPs from UML and nine MPs from the Maoist Center, including the Speaker in Madhesh province government.