Congress Ministers Resign in Karnali Province
Sarkhet. The resignation of 4 ministers from the Nepali Congress participating in the Karnali Province government on Wednesday morning has intensified political heat. Although the ministers have resigned, the Congress has maintained its support.
According to the power equation between UML and Congress at the center at that time, Yamlal Kandel, leader of the UML parliamentary party, has been the Chief Minister since July 081. According to the agreement at the center at that time, Congress was supposed to lead the government in March. However, as this did not happen, it is believed that the Congress has recalled its ministers. Along with this, discussions have also started about whether the power equation is about to change.
On this topic, Rato Pati has spoken with former Chief Minister and leader of the Congress Karnali Province Parliamentary Party, Jeevan Bahadur Shahi. Here is the edited summary of the conversation conducted by Pank Bahadur Shahi for Rato Pati:
Today, suddenly, Congress ministers resigned, what are you trying to do?
Our ministers were supposed to be changed before the budget came. But at that time, I myself stopped them, saying, 'This should not be done during the budget.' At that time, we also told the ministers that you should resign after the budget is released. They also said, 'Okay.'
The budget was passed on Asar 19. After that, they were ready to resign. In the meantime, there was news that some changes might happen at the center. The new financial year has now started. If we go to the ministry in the same situation again, there will be various procedures like regulations.
Discussions are continuously ongoing in our party regarding the government. Currently, new ministers from our side will not join the government immediately. The government itself may change after discussions at the center. If that does not happen, only the ministers may change. Whether to change the government or just the ministers, the way must be open for that. That's all there is to it.
Do you yourself want to take the leadership of the government? There was talk of leadership change in March according to the rotation?
It's not that I won't take it. Now, the one who has taken it should say, 'Okay, my turn is up, you come!'
Meaning, because Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel did not say that his time was up and he would hand over, you recalled your ministers?
No, no, it's not because of that. Discussions are ongoing at the center regarding that matter.
We wanted to change them before the budget, but they said they would resign after the budget was passed, so it was stopped. This is what happened now, nothing else. Now, regarding the discussions, the matter of rotation is being discussed at the center, and it will happen.
If the leadership of the government were to change and the Chief Minister wanted to resign, the cabinet would automatically be dissolved, but now only the ministers have resigned?
We did not tell the Chief Minister to resign! That is something he has to resign himself, think about it.
Now, he should say, 'Okay, my turn is up, I have been running it for longer than my turn.' Our colleagues said they would resign after the budget was prepared; now they said, 'We will resign, if you want to change the government, you do it, and if you want to send another minister, send one,' and they resigned. That's all there is to it.
So, are you recalling your ministers to put pressure on the current Chief Minister for not handing over power?
If we wanted to put pressure, we probably wouldn't have resigned. This is not to put pressure on him.
Some people are discussing that Jeevan Shahi himself is a person who can make decisions contrary to the center; due to not having a good tuning with UML, there is a discussion that he is trying to form a government by allying with NCP?
How can I shut the mouths of those who discuss?
How likely is this possibility?
Now, you know – in politics, nothing is impossible. I am the person who became Chief Minister even after winning alone in this province before. Now there are 15 people, and I am the one who could not become Chief Minister for so long even after becoming the first party. In politics, anything is possible! It's not that there is no possibility of a new equation. Now, sometimes we ally with someone, sometimes with someone else. Currently, nothing like that is happening. I am continuously discussing this matter with our central president, vice-president, and general secretaries.
What is their say?
They have not said anything like 'let's ally with this person, let's do this, let's not do that.' As you have seen in Sudurpaschim. Discussions are ongoing. Discussions are going on everywhere.
Discussions have been held with UML as well. Discussions are ongoing with Maoists too. One result of those discussions is the three-party government in Madhesh. Such an attempt can also be made! Discussions are ongoing with everyone. Now, perhaps something will happen in a day or two.
