Provincial Governments Face Crisis After Alliance Breakup

Kathmandu. The alliance between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML has broken, and its impact is being seen in every province. The future of various provincial governments is being questioned.  

In Sudurpaschim Province, UML has already withdrawn its support for the Congress-led government, while ministers from Congress have resigned from the Karnali government led by UML. The impact of the alliance breakup is also beginning to show in other provinces.

Amidst this situation, there is growing interest in what will happen in Madhesh Province. However, UML has not yet left the Madhesh government led by the Nepali Congress. Congress has also not removed UML ministers.

A leader close to Congress said, 'So far, the plan is to continue with UML, although the future of the government depends on the direction given by the center.'

UML also does not seem inclined to leave the Madhesh Province government. No directive has been issued to the province from UML's center so far. Congress has also not received any directive from the center regarding the power-sharing relationship.

CPN-UML provincial assembly member Rajkumar Lekhi said, 'There has been no discussion about the government in the province at the moment. We have not received any directive from the center regarding the government. The party will make a decision accordingly once a directive is received.' He stated that they are awaiting directives from the center.

JSP Nepal leader and Madhesh Province Assembly member Jitendra Sonal said that as long as Congress and UML are unclear about the government, JSP Nepal cannot do anything.

If the UML-Congress alliance in Madhesh Province breaks, the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal will be decisive. Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal is the largest party in Madhesh Province. If the current Congress-Aimal alliance breaks, both parties will need the support of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal to form a government. However, as the largest party, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal wants to form a government under its own leadership.

JSP Nepal leader and Madhesh Province Assembly member Jitendra Sonal said that as long as Congress and UML are unclear about the government, JSP Nepal cannot do anything. He clarified that JSP Nepal will make the necessary decision only after the Congress-Aimal alliance breaks.

Another leader of JSP Nepal, Shailendra Sah, asserted that as the largest party, JSP Nepal would claim leadership of the government. However, he stated that the current alliance must break for that to happen. 'It is unclear whether UML will leave the government on its own or if Congress will remove them,' he said, 'JSP Nepal will have no role in this as long as this alliance does not break.'

According to sources, UML is also claiming leadership of the government. It is said that UML leaders have started internal talks with Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal for this purpose.

Sources indicate that if Congress maintains its claim to the Chief Minister position, there is a possibility of forming a government with UML and Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal. That source claims UML could form a government by giving the Chief Minister position to Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal.

On the other hand, if Congress has to lose the leadership of the government due to UML, Congress may also give the Chief Minister position to Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal.

According to a leader of JSP Nepal, there is also a possibility of Janamat Party and JSP Nepal forming a government together in Madhesh.

Currently, there are 103 provincial members in Madhesh Province. Of these, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal has 28, UML has 24, and Congress has 22 members. Similarly, the Nepali Communist Party has 15 provincial assembly members, while Janamat Party has 12, and Nepal Federal Socialist Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party each have one provincial assembly member.

A minimum of 52 provincial assembly members are required for a majority. Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal and UML together reach 52. However, Congress and Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal fall short by two. Sources indicate that Janamat Party could provide support.

According to a leader of JSP Nepal, there is also a possibility of Janamat Party and JSP Nepal forming a government together in Madhesh. It is also possible to form a government in Madhesh with Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Janamat Party, and CPN-UML. For that, the alliance between Congress and UML must break first. However, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal does not seem inclined to form a government with UML or CPN-UML. Sources claim that the party leaders appear to favor forming a government in collaboration with Congress.