Bagmati Province Sees New Government Formation Talks Amid Shifting Alliances

Hetauda. With the shift in the central power equation, the race to form a new government has also begun in Bagmati Province. The CPN-UML has proposed to move forward by forming a 'leftist alliance' with the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) in Bagmati Province.

CPN-UML lawmakers have proposed cooperation in the leftist alliance to Shalikram Jammakattel, the leader of the CPN (Bagmati Province Parliamentary Party). Jammakattel, who is also a former Chief Minister, stated that CPN-UML lawmakers have been calling since Wednesday to propose a leftist alliance. He mentioned that the proposal from the CPN-UML has been taken positively and discussions will be held only after the party's top leadership provides directives. He stated that the CPN will stake a claim for the Chief Minister position in the event of forming a new government.

He said that the CPN is the decisive force in Bagmati Province and forming a government with the participation of all three parties (CPN-UML, CPN, and Congress) under its own leadership is his first priority.

'Honorable members of the CPN-UML are saying, let's unite and move forward with the leftist alliance. I have taken it positively. Discussions will be held according to the party's directives. No directives have been received so far,' he said. 'If the current government is to be changed, we will not support anyone else. As the second largest party in the Provincial Assembly, we will try to form a government under our leadership.'

According to leader Jammakattel, the current political instability has been created by the CPN-UML. He stated that the current problem has arisen due to the game of causing the budgets of Sudurpaschim and Koshi provinces to fail. He said that the CPN-UML itself is active in causing the budgets of Koshi and Sudurpaschim to fail and has made proposals to the Congress. He stated that this situation has caused problems in the provincial governments.

He stated that they will move forward by accepting any decision made by the top leadership regarding the provincial power equation. He said that the Congress has not shown any interest in the government so far and has not contacted them for discussions.

'We will accept whatever decision comes from the top leadership, but our claim to lead the government will be natural. So far, the Congress has not made any formal proposal for the government,' he said.