Opposition Parties Congress and UML Face Deadline for Provincial Government Reshuffle

Kathmandu. The deadline for reshuffling six provincial governments, as per the prior agreement between the two opposition parties in the Federal Parliament, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, is nearing. A consensus was reached on 2081 Ashar 17 between the then-President of Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and the Chairman of UML, KP Sharma Oli, to operate the governments on a rotational basis. As per the seven-point agreement, Oli was to lead the federal government for the first two years, and the remaining one and a half years would be handed over to Deuba. Oli became the Prime Minister according to the same agreement. Provincial governments were also formed based on the coalition formed at the center. In between, the Oli government fell due to the Janji movement last year in Bhadra. The interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki dissolved the previous parliament and announced elections. In the elections, the new party Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) formed a government with a near two-thirds majority, dealing a major blow to Congress and UML. Following the Janji movement, Congress has been led by young leader Gagan Thapa. In the special general convention held in the last week of Poush, Thapa replaced President Deuba, and a new working committee was elected under Thapa's leadership. With leadership change and electoral defeat, Congress appears to be on the verge of division. Meanwhile, Oli, who was ousted from power by the Janji movement, has been re-elected as chairman in the 11th general convention in Mangsir, but disputes remain unresolved. UML, which suffered its biggest electoral setback in history, is again facing a debate over leadership transfer within the party. Amidst internal disputes, top leaders of Congress and UML discussed the reshuffling of governments in the first week of Jestha. While Congress and UML were swept out of power at the center, they currently hold governments in all seven provinces. As per the agreement, Congress leads the governments in Bagmati, Gandaki, and Sudurpashchim. UML leads in Koshi, Lumbini, and Karnali. According to the agreement, the Madhesh government was to be led by Janamat Party, but due to political developments there, Congress got the opportunity to lead the government. There has been no recent dialogue between Congress and UML regarding the reshuffling of provincial governments as per the 7-point agreement between Deuba and Oli. Earlier, to discuss the reshuffling of governments, Congress Vice-President Bishwaprakash Sharma and Joint General Secretary Uday Shumsher Rana met UML Chairman KP Oli in Gundu on Ashar 29. Before that, UML Vice-Chairman Bishnu Poudel and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel had informal talks with Sharma and Rana. After formal and informal discussions among the leaders, UML Chairman Oli and Congress President Gagan Thapa discussed the reshuffling of governments. The UML Secretariat meeting held on Jestha 4 gave the responsibility of reshuffling the government to Oli. Regarding the reshuffling of provincial governments, Congress General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire said that discussions were held among top leaders in Ashar-Jestha. He informed that the agreement was to change the government after the budget was prepared. "Discussions were held among the leaders of the parties participating in the government around Ashar-Jestha. At that time, there was a long debate about changing the government before or after the budget," Ghimire said, "We agreed to change the government after the budget preparation. Now the budget has been presented. The government will enter a new phase after the budget is passed within this month." He stated that the leadership that has been in place so far according to the rotational agreement will be changed. He said that the discussion is focused on UML taking the leadership in provinces led by Congress, and Congress taking the leadership in provinces led by UML. Although President Thapa has said that he will proceed according to the past agreement with UML, Ghimire clarified that discussions have not started yet. Ghimire said that they will proceed according to the past consultation on changing the government. Meanwhile, UML spokesperson Lekhraj Bhatta clearly stated that there has been no recent discussion with Congress regarding the reshuffling of governments. Bhatta asserted that although discussions were held between both sides in the first week of Jestha, they did not reach a conclusion. However, he said that he has no information as the responsibility of reaching an agreement has been given to Chairman Oli. "A discussion was held once around the first week of Jestha. It was said that governments in all six provinces would be reshuffled as per the prior agreement. Discussions on this matter will be held in the top leadership or secretariat meeting, but there is no discussion on this right now," he said, "We have given the responsibility of reshuffling the government to the Chairman. He will make a decision as needed." UML Vice-Chairman Prithivisubba Gurung also said that he has no information about the reshuffling of provincial governments. "The responsibility of reshuffling provincial governments has been given to the Chairman. He will know about this. We have not been given any responsibility, nor have we received any information," Gurung said. Before reshuffling the government, ministers other than the chief ministers were changed in Gandaki province on Ashar 2, and in Sudurpashchim and Lumbini on Jestha 25, by Congress-UML. Both parties believe that reshuffling the government during the intense internal disputes of Congress and UML could be problematic. Due to internal disputes within Congress, Indra Baniyan became the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province after removing Bahadur Singh Lama. The ruling coalition is apprehensive that the disgruntled faction might form a government with the opposition Nepali Communist Party when UML and Congress remove chief ministers. The Nepali Communist Party is decisive in all provinces. Oli appears positive about including the Nepali Communist Party in the coalition in the changed circumstances. He stands for forming a front with these three parties represented in parliament along with the Madhesi parties to protect the constitution, system, and nationality. However, Prakash Jwala, spokesperson for the Nepali Communist Party, said that there has been no discussion with Congress and UML regarding participation in the provincial government. "There has been no discussion about participating in the Congress-UML coalition. We have no interest, concern, or attention in this. However, the party has already decided that republicans will unite to save the constitution, system, and national independence. Cooperation can happen in that regard," Jwala said. He stated that it might be assumed that a communist government is about to be formed as UML obstructed the budget in Sudurpashchim Province. Jwala said, "The dispute will be resolved once the distribution is settled. We are not in favor of power sharing or changing the equation right now. I have heard that discussions are ongoing between UML and Congress regarding the reshuffle. No one has discussed this with us." Top leaders of Congress and UML have gathered to resolve the dispute after the ruling party's MPs opposed the budget presented by the Sudurpashchim Province government. Congress General Secretary Pradip Paudel and UML Accounting Commission Chairman Dr. Pushpa Kandel have reached Sudurpashchim. UML is preparing to register an amendment proposal against the budget presented by the government in the Provincial Assembly. There is intense debate within Congress itself regarding the budget.