Parties Focus on Government Changes Amidst Provincial Uncertainty

Kathmandu. Parties are centering their activities on changing governments in most of the provinces. Efforts are underway to suddenly change the governments formed on the basis of alliances between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML. Since no party has a clear majority in any province, it is not yet clear which parties will form an alliance to form a government.

Amidst this uncertainty, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) has set three conditions to participate in the provincial government. After the agreement for rotational government leadership between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML broke down two years ago, the CPN has clarified that it will participate in the government with conditions.

However, the CPN has not made an official decision on whether to participate in the provincial government. The secretariat of Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' stated that a decision will be made after Prachanda returns to the country from Sri Lanka.

Govinda Acharya, the personal secretary of Chairman Prachanda, stated that the party has not made any decision regarding government formation. He clarified that they are in a 'wait and see' situation.

Prachanda has gone to Sri Lanka on Wednesday to participate in a South Asia regional program. Acharya said that the party's official stance will be made public after his return from the three-day visit.

'The party has not made an official decision on participating in the provincial government. Our party is not in favor of creating a tug-of-war just to form a government. The CPN will participate in the government only if a consensus government is formed,' Acharya said.

Acharya has presented three options regarding participation in the provincial government. First, his party is in favor of forming a consensus government in all seven provinces with the participation of Congress, UML, CPN, and Madhesi parties, he clarified.

Second, Acharya stated that if the previous agreement between the Congress and the UML is not honored, and even if it appears that support has been withdrawn in some provinces, the CPN will make a necessary decision only if they officially announce that the past agreement has been broken.

Third, if a situation arises where no government is formed, the respective provincial committees will be given the authority to make decisions as needed, without central intervention, he clarified.

'We are not in favor of forming or breaking governments. We will participate in the government on the condition of forming a small cabinet based on consensus and maintaining good governance,' he said. 

Spokesperson Prakash Jwala clearly stated that the CPN will participate in the alliance only if a consensus government is formed.

'The official announcement of the breakdown of the Congress and UML alliance has not been made. We are not in favor of forming or breaking governments. If a situation arises where no government is formed, it can be considered, but we are in favor of forming a consensus government,' he said.

According to Jwala, the CPN is not in favor of forming a government by supporting either the Congress or the UML.

On June 17, 2081, a rotational government operation agreement was reached between former Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli. The deadline for changing governments in all six provinces according to that agreement expired on Wednesday.

A Congress official accused the UML of cooperating in passing the budget in the government led by UML, but not cooperating in passing the budget in the government led by Congress. In Sudurpashchim Province, led by Congress, the Chief Minister Kamal Shah dismissed the UML ministers after they did not cooperate.

The UML has also announced the withdrawal of its support to the government. The Congress and UML have not responded to the conditions set by the CPN, which has become decisive in forming provincial governments.