Far-Western Province Government Faces Instability Amidst Internal Party Strife

Dhangadhi. In the previous term of the Sudurpashchim Province Assembly, the then Chief Minister Trilochana Bhatta confidently led the government for five years. However, in the second term, the government has changed frequently.

Kamal Bahadur Shah of the Nepali Congress, who has been leading the provincial government, has secured his position despite efforts by some MPs from his own party to remove him from the Chief Minister's post.

Factionalism within the Nepali Congress has impacted the Sudurpashchim Province Assembly. After Gagan Thapa became the central president, those from former president Sher Bahadur Deuba's faction are quite dissatisfied. Currently, there are two groups within the Congress in the Sudurpashchim Province Assembly. One faction supports former president Deuba, while the other supports president Thapa.

Currently, Chief Minister Shah has to face not only the opposition parties to sustain his government but also the distrust of MPs from his own party. Recently, the factionalism within the Congress came to the surface when MPs from the establishment faction of Congress even moved to table a no-confidence motion against Shah, the leader of the parliamentary party.

Politics has taken another turn. On July 10, 2081, he became the Chief Minister for the second time with the support of the UML.

This is Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah's second term. After the 2079 elections, UML's Rajendra Rawal initially became the Chief Minister, but after failing to secure a vote of confidence, Shah first took office on January 26, 2079. With the support of Maoist, Nagarik Unmukti, and Unified Socialist at the time, he was forced to resign on April 5, 2080, after the coalition in the center changed.

However, politics has taken another turn. On July 10, 2081, he became the Chief Minister for the second time with the support of the UML. At that time, Prakash Deuba, the nephew of Sher Bahadur Deuba, also made significant efforts to become the Chief Minister. But ultimately, Shah succeeded.

Deuba, who appeared dissatisfied after not getting the Chief Minister's post, is currently in America. He did not wish to become a minister after not getting the Chief Minister's post. Some MPs who wanted to become ministers, state ministers, and chief ministers are currently active in the game to oust Shah. Some time ago, when party president Gagan Thapa came to Dhangadhi, they demanded a change of ministers in the Sudurpashchim government. President Thapa did not agree to their demands.

Currently, Thapa expressed the view that they should move forward together rather than changing ministers. That dissatisfied faction created tension for the Chief Minister on Tuesday. Nine out of 18 Congress MPs filed a no-confidence motion against their own party leader and Chief Minister Shah. With half of the MPs from his own party standing against him, Shah's position was in jeopardy.

However, Chief Minister Shah, demonstrating political skill, succeeded in bringing Dammari Mahara, an MP who had signed the no-confidence motion, to his side. Dammari immediately withdrew her signature and announced her support for the Chief Minister. As a result, Shah's position was secured for the time being. Currently, 8 MPs are against the Chief Minister, while 9, including the Chief Minister, are in support. MP Prakash Deuba is still in America.

According to Bisht, information was sent to the center and the province with the signatures of the majority of MPs.

MP Diwansingh Bisht, who is leading the campaign to change the government by changing the leader of the parliamentary party, says that this step has been taken because the current government is unable to do any work.

'Our main objective in trying to change the leader of the parliamentary party is to form a new government. The current leadership cannot uphold the development of the province and the dignity of the party,' he said.

According to Bisht, information was sent to the center and the province with the signatures of the majority of MPs.

'We are taking this step because we believe the leadership needs to change. We have advanced this process by gathering a majority according to the party's statute. There is no external pressure. All MPs signed voluntarily. One MP informed that they withdrew their signature. We are continuing our campaign,' he said.

The day after the no-confidence motion was filed against him, Chief Minister Shah called a meeting of the parliamentary party. In the meeting, he gathered his supporting MPs and decided that the old signatures made on Jestha 8 (May 22) were no longer valid.

'We are currently in the crucial phase of preparing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. At such a time, engaging in games to topple the government is not in the interest of the province. We must all come together to present the budget and unite the party,' Shah said.

Chief Minister Shah is currently physically weak. He uses a walker when moving around. On one hand, physical suffering, and on the other hand, the mental anxiety of when his post might be lost—he says he is engaged in preparing the upcoming budget amidst both these challenges.

In Sudurpashchim, the Nepali Communist Party has become the largest force with 21 seats. There is also talk of the UML and the NCP uniting to oust Congress from power, but leaders from the Nepali Communist Party and UML say this will not happen immediately.

They say that if possible, all three parties will run the government together. However, Chief Minister Shah has no peace of mind. He faces the challenge of uniting the MPs of his own party.