Sudurpaschim Province Sees Frequent Government Changes Amidst Political Instability

Dhangadhi. For the first time after the implementation of federalism, the Provincial Assembly election was held in 2074 BS. During the five-year term of the Provincial Assembly, governments in five out of seven provinces changed frequently, but the governments in Madhesh and Sudurpaschim provinces remained stable for the full term.

The leadership of the Sudurpaschim government at that time was held by Trilochan Bhatta of the then CPN (Maoist Centre). Some interpreted him as a lucky Chief Minister. Even when the equations changed at the center, the leadership of the Sudurpaschim government did not waver.

However, in the second term of the Provincial Assembly, the government in Sudurpaschim has changed four times. Now, there is talk of a fifth government change.

In the second term of the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly, Rajendrasingh Rawal, the parliamentary party leader of CPN (UML), was appointed as the first Chief Minister on Push 27, 2079 BS. Rawal, who became Chief Minister with the support of 29 MPs from Maoist Centre, Nagarik Unmukti Party, and RPP, did not last long. Exactly one month after becoming Chief Minister, Rawal was removed from office after the Nagarik Unmukti Party, considered a decisive force in parliamentary arithmetic, did not give him a vote of confidence. Although at least 27 MPs are required for a majority in the 53-member Provincial Assembly, he could not gather that number.

After Rawal, on Magh 26, 2079 BS, Kamal Bahadur Shah, the parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress, took over the Chief Minister's chair. He had the support of Maoist Centre, Nagarik Unmukti, Unified Socialist, and independent MP Tara Prasad Joshi.

On Chaitra 22, 2080 BS, he had to resign due to a change in the political equation at the center. After Shah's departure, on Baishakh 6, 2081 BS, Dirgha Bahadur Sodari of CPN (Unified Socialist) was appointed Chief Minister. Sodari's tenure was also very short. Amidst internal disputes within the Nagarik Unmukti Party and two different claims, the Provincial Chief Najir Mian called for a new Chief Minister, and Sodari formed the government with the support of UML, Maoist Centre, and Nagarik Unmukti Party. Sodari's tenure was also not smooth. He resigned on Shrawan 18, 2081 BS, after failing to secure a vote of confidence. Currently, he is suspended from his position as a Provincial Assembly member due to a corruption case. Sodari's political journey is currently in crisis due to a case filed by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

After Sodari, on Shrawan 10, 2081 BS, Kamal Bahadur Shah of the Congress once again became Chief Minister with the support of UML and is currently leading the government.

This journey of power changes in Sudurpaschim has now reached a new turning point. An alliance between Maoist Centre, Nagarik Unmukti, and Unified Socialist has created a new equation in the Provincial Assembly. The CPN (Maoist Centre), formed by the merger of these parties, has become the largest party in the province with 21 seats.

According to CPN (Maoist Centre) MP Man Bahadur Dhami, discussions are currently underway at the level of forming a coalition government between Congress, UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre) or even merging the parties.

"We are not just discussing running the government, but also moving forward together by merging the parties. Once a concrete directive comes from the center, changes can be made in the provincial government accordingly," he said.

On the other hand, Chief Whip of the ruling Nepali Congress, Vikram Singh Dhami, is in favor of continuing the current Congress-UML coalition. Arguing that it is not appropriate to include other parties, he stated that if the equation changes, Congress should leave the government.

UML minister Bir Bahadur Thapa also says he is waiting for a decision from the higher level.

Analysts say that the continuous government changes in Sudurpaschim are affecting the government's functioning. Harichandra Bisht, a former teacher who closely observes the province's politics, says that frequent government changes severely impact the province's development and good governance. According to Bisht, the bureaucracy gets confused with frequent government changes, due to which policy decisions cannot be implemented.

"When Trilochan Bhatta ran the government for five years last time, a system was starting to form, but the current instability is causing citizens to lose faith in the provincial structure itself," he said.

According to Bisht, frequent changes in power lead to unspent budgets, stalled development projects, and a situation where foreign investors become hesitant. He believes that time is wasted on paperwork rather than work due to the practice of one minister understanding a plan and then another minister taking over.

Currently, in the 53-member Provincial Assembly, 51 MPs remain after one resignation and one suspension. The current government, supported by 18 MPs from Congress and 11 from UML, is now under pressure from the CPN (Maoist Centre), which has emerged as the largest party.