BIRATNAGAR, Aug 4: The CPN-UML on Monday failed to reach a decision on appointing a new chief minister for Koshi Province after a high-level meeting in Biratnagar ended without consensus.
The meeting, attended by office bearers of the UML Koshi Province Committee and provincial assembly members, was convened to resolve the party's internal dispute over the province's leadership. However, despite hours of discussion, leaders failed to break the deadlock.
Speaking after the meeting, UML Koshi Province In-charge Sherdhan Rai expressed confidence that the dispute would be resolved within a week in line with a three-point agreement reached at the party's central level and directives issued by party Chair K. P. Sharma Oli.
India fails to end deadlock with farmers, talks to resume next...
"There is only a small knot that needs to be untied," Rai said. "It will be resolved within a week in accordance with the three-point agreement reached at the center and the party chair's directive."
Oli has assigned Rai, who is also a member of the party's central secretariat, to settle the dispute and facilitate the appointment of UML Koshi Province parliamentary party deputy leader Til Kumar Menyangbo as the next chief minister.
According to party sources, Rai urged incumbent Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki to step aside in line with the party leadership's directive. However, Karki refused, exposing deep divisions within the party over the provincial leadership.
Addressing Monday's meeting, Karki maintained that while he may not be the only candidate for the post, he remains the most suitable person to lead the provincial government under the current circumstances.
Karki also insisted that, as the incumbent chief minister, he would continue in office, signaling his unwillingness to relinquish the position despite pressure from the party leadership.
