Madhesh Province Government Formation Underway Amidst Political Maneuvering

Kathmandu. Following the withdrawal of support from the Madhesh Province government by the Janamat Party, a race to form a new government has begun. Among them, the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal appears to be the most prominent.< p>

JSP Nepal has already started internal preparations to form a government in alliance with UML. Top leaders of JSP Nepal, Madhesh Province are currently in Kathmandu. They are engaged in internal preparations. A leader of JSP Nepal said, 'UML has already agreed to support us, and internal discussions are ongoing regarding who from JSP Nepal will lead the government.'< p>

Leaders like Jitendra Sonal, Saroj Yadav, and Lalbabu Raut are in the running for the Chief Minister post from Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal. All three have served as Chief Minister before. JSP Nepal sources indicate that they are at the forefront of those staking a claim for the Chief Minister position.< p>

Sources say that aspiring leaders for the Chief Minister post are holding internal discussions with the President of JSP Nepal, Upendra Yadav. On the other hand, some leaders within JSP Nepal are lobbying against joining the government. Some leaders have even pressured the leadership not to form a government with UML under any circumstances. Others are suggesting that since the provincial assembly elections are only about a year away, they should separate from the government and focus on election preparations.< p>

There is a dispute within JSP Nepal regarding whether to join the government or not. Although JSP Nepal and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal have merged, the merger has not yet been finalized. While the party merger is legally complete at the central level, both parties maintain their separate identities in Madhesh Province. Both parties are staking a claim to lead the government. In this situation, the party is not clear about whether to join the government or not.< p>

It is also yet to be decided whom UML will support in forming the government. Saroj Yadav, leader of the UML parliamentary party in Madhesh Province and former Chief Minister, stated that he is not in favor of forming or dissolving the government. 'There has been no agreement within the coalition, and we hear there are disputes among them,' Yadav said. 'We are not playing games of forming or toppling governments. We have received offers of support from the Congress side. On the other hand, we are also receiving overtures from parties like JSP Nepal, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, but we have not committed to anyone.'< p>

Yadav clarified that UML will decide whom to support only if a situation arises to form another government. He also stated that he is not claiming leadership for the new government. He said, 'We are not seeking the Chief Minister position. If necessary, we can support any party, but we will only provide conditional support. Despite supporting the Congress twice, we did not even get the impression of having a Chief Minister in the province.'< p>

Therefore, Yadav said that if they are to support anyone, they will proceed with collaboration only after a written agreement specifying the tasks to be done and the manner in which they will be executed.< p>

Saroj Yadav, leader of the JSP Nepal parliamentary party in Madhesh Province, stated that discussions about joining or leaving the government have not progressed. He mentioned that discussions on this matter are yet to take place within the party.< p>

'There is no discussion anywhere about who will become the Chief Minister or not. There is no certainty whether another government will be formed or not. Before that, how can the issue of who becomes Chief Minister be discussed?' he said.< p>

According to Yadav, development work in the province has stalled, and development expenditure is low. He asserted that work that was decided in the policy and program and for which budget has been allocated has not been done, holding the Chief Minister responsible for it. He said, 'If any minister has not performed, the minister should have been removed, but the Chief Minister is responsible for everything.'< p>

Shailendra Sah, a leader of JSP Nepal, stated that the merger process with Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal will be finalized before forming the government in Madhesh Province. He said, 'Before a government is formed in Madhesh Province, the merger between Loktantrik Samajwadi Party and JSP Nepal will be finalized. Only then will the matter of forming a government be discussed.' He added that they are working to complete the merger of the two parties.  < p>

The Janamat Party, with 12 members in the Madhesh Provincial Assembly, has already withdrawn its support from the government. However, Mahesh Yadav and Basanta Kushwaha, who are ministers from the Janamat Party, are still in the government. They do not agree with the Janamat Party's withdrawal of support from the government.< p>

The Janamat Party has removed Mahesh Yadav, the leader of its parliamentary party in Madhesh Province, and appointed General Secretary Chandan Singh as the party's leader. The internal dispute within the Janamat Party has affected the government. However, Chief Minister Krishna Yadav said, 'The government has not been affected in any way due to the Janamat Party's dispute; all parties in the coalition have been supporting us so far and have agreed to continue their support.'  < p>

With the merger of JSP Nepal and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, JSP Nepal has become the largest party in Madhesh Province. Therefore, JSP Nepal has claimed leadership of the government. Two ministers from JSP Nepal and one from Loktantrik Samajwadi Party are in the government. JSP Nepal has 18 and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal has 8 lawmakers.< p>

UML has 24, Congress has 22, CPN (Maoist) and CPN (Unified Socialist) have 15, Janamat Party has 12, and Nagarik Unmukti and Nepal Federal Socialist Party have one member each.  < p>