KATHMANDU, August 18: The power sharing agreement between the CPN-UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) at the federal level has begun reshaping provincial governments.
In some provinces, the coalition has changed and cabinets have been expanded. In others, the chief minister has resigned, setting the stage for the formation of a new government. In Lumbini, the chief minister has secured a vote of confidence, clearing the way for cabinet expansion.
After the UML ended its power sharing arrangement with the Nepali Congress (NC) and joined hands with the NCP, changes were made to the Koshi provincial cabinet. The cabinet was expanded after the NCP joined the government. In Bagmati, Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya resigned on Monday, triggering the process of forming a new government. In Lumbini, Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya secured a vote of confidence.
Koshi cabinet expanded
The Koshi provincial government has been expanded to 11 members under Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki. After ministers from the NC resigned, Province Chief Parshuram Khapung appointed four ministers and one state minister on Monday on the recommendation of Chief Minister Karki.
The four ministers from the NCP were sworn in by Province Chief Khapung, while the state minister took the oath from Chief Minister Karki.
The NCP has received four ministries: Khinulangwa Limbu has been appointed Minister for Tourism, Forests and Environment, Jeevan Acharya has taken charge of Physical Infrastructure, Gambu Sherpa has been appointed Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, and Geeta Timsina has been appointed Minister for Social Development. Sapana Darji has been appointed State Minister for Physical Infrastructure.
The portfolios of two UML ministers and one state minister have also been reshuffled. Internal Affairs and Law Minister Indramani Parajuli has been given responsibility for the Health Ministry. Ram Prasad Mahato, who had been handling the Social Development Ministry, has been assigned the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives. Internal Affairs and Law State Minister Umakanta Gautam has been made State Minister for Health.
Cabinets of Province 2 and 3 expanded
Chief Minister Karki said the government has a clear majority and therefore does not need to seek a vote of confidence. Under the power sharing agreement, the UML will hold five ministries, including the chief minister's position, while the NCP Party will get four ministries.
Government formation begins in Bagmati
The process of forming a new government has begun in Bagmati Province. Following Indra Bahadur Baniya's resignation as chief minister on Monday, Province Chief Dipak Prasad Devkota called on provincial lawmakers to stake their claim to form a new government.
Under Article 168 (2) of the Constitution, Devkota has invited any provincial assembly member who can secure a majority with the support of two or more parties represented in the provincial assembly to claim the post of chief minister. The deadline has been set for 4 pm Thursday.
Baniya was reduced to a minority after the UML withdrew its support from his government on August 6. The provincial assembly meeting had been called on Monday for him to seek a vote of confidence.
Realising that he could not secure the support of a majority of lawmakers, Baniya announced his resignation while addressing the assembly. He had become chief minister on August 4, 2025, after replacing his own party colleague Bahadur Singh Lama.
When a party supporting the government withdraws its backing, the chief minister must seek a vote of confidence within 30 days. If the chief minister fails to secure the vote, the province chief can call for the formation of a majority government under Article 168 (2). If no party or coalition can command a majority, the province chief can invoke Article 168 (3) and invite the largest party to form the government. If that provision comes into play, the NC will form the government.
The Bagmati Provincial Assembly currently has 104 members: 36 from the NC, 25 from the UML, 20 from the then CPN (Maoist Centre), now part of the NCP, 12 from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), six from the then CPN Unified Socialist, now part of the NCP, three from the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, and two from the Hamro Nepal Party.
Two UML lawmakers, one former Maoist Centre lawmaker, one NC and one Unified Socialist lawmaker have already resigned to contest the federal parliamentary election.
The former Maoist Centre and Unified Socialist have since merged to form the NCP. The NC claims that the UML effectively has 24 voting members because one of its 25 lawmakers is serving as acting speaker and cannot vote except in the event of a tie.
The NCP and UML need the support of the RPP to secure a majority and form a government. The RPP has said it does not support a change in the provincial power arrangement.
A no confidence motion filed against the UML parliamentary party leader in Bagmati has yet to be resolved. UML lawmaker Krishna Prasad Silwal said a decision would be reached within a few days. According to him, parliamentary party leader JN Thapaliya will be removed from the position.
UML lawmaker Kiran Thapa Magar said discussions were underway with other parties to secure the numbers needed to form a new government.
Since the implementation of federalism, Bagmati has had six chief ministers: Dormani Poudel, Asta Laxmi Shakya, Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Shalikram Jamkattel, Bahadur Singh Lama and Indra Bahadur Baniya.
Lumbini chief minister wins vote of confidence
Lumbini Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya has secured a vote of confidence. At Monday's provincial assembly meeting, 45 lawmakers, a majority of the assembly, voted in his favour. The province has 83 lawmakers, with 42 votes required for a majority.
Acharya sought the vote after the NC, a coalition partner, withdrew from the government and pulled its support on August 12.
Only 71 of the 83 provincial lawmakers took part in the vote. Of them, 45 voted in favour of Acharya and 26 against him.
With the vote secured, Acharya now has the legal basis to move ahead with expanding the provincial government with the participation of the NCP.
NCP chief whip Indrajit Chaudhary said the cabinet expansion process would now begin following Acharya's victory in the confidence vote. The government is backed by the NCP, the Janata Samajwadi Party and the Rastriya Janamorcha.
-With inputs from Binod Subedi from Biratnagar, Basanta Dhungana from Chitwan, and Devendra Basnet from Dang
