Nepali Congress Splits with CPN-UML Over Power Sharing

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress has become estranged from the CPN-UML. Sources claim that the Congress became estranged after party president Gagan Thapa and other leaders repeatedly sought time for discussions with UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli regarding power sharing, but Oli did not agree to meet.

After discussions on power sharing could not take place, the party has concluded that cooperation cannot be continued, a leader of the Congress told Ratopati. Accordingly, a clear rift has already been seen in power sharing in Sudurpashchim and Karnali. In Karnali, four ministers from the Congress have resigned, while in Sudurpashchim, Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah has sacked ministers from the UML. There is also a dispute in Bagmati.

In such a situation, the Congress is now preparing to break the power-sharing alliance with the UML in the provincial governments, according to the leader. Although no formal decision has been made, an informal directive has been given to the provincial parties to break the alliance, informed the leader at the party official level.

'Our colleagues supported the passing of the budget for the fiscal year in the provinces led by the UML; but since the UML did not cooperate in the provinces led by us, we were forced to break the alliance,' the official told Ratopati.

CPN-UML's Publicity Department Chief Niraj Acharya responded that he has little information about this as direct talks between Chairman KP Sharma Oli and the Congress President will take place regarding changes in the provincial government. He told Ratopati, 'There was an agreement to move forward by discussing this at the top level. But it is not known why the ministers were suddenly removed in Sudurpashchim.'