Province Government Formation in Flux as Congress-CPN (UML) Alliance Falters
Kathmandu. The Nepali Communist Party (NCP), the main opposition party, has become decisive in the formation of provincial governments after the 7-point agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML two years ago fell into jeopardy.
The CPN-UML, which was participating in the Sudurpashchim Province government, had its ministers dismissed by Chief Minister Kamal Shah on Wednesday due to non-cooperation in passing the budget for the fiscal year 2083/084. Angered by the Chief Minister's decision, the CPN-UML decided to withdraw its support to the government. This is expected to have repercussions in all seven provinces.
With the Congress-UML alliance in jeopardy, efforts are underway to form a new government in Bagmati Province, the federal capital.
In Bagmati as well, the CPN-UML is preparing to recall its ministers. The CPN-UML has proposed to the main opposition party, the NCP, to form a leftist government. This was stated by NCP leader Shalikram Jampattel, who received the proposal from the CPN-UML. However, he stated that as the leader of the second-largest party, he would try to form a government under his own leadership.
'Honorable members of the CPN-UML are urging us to unite and move forward with the leftist alliance. If the current government is to change, 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,' Jampattel said.
He stated that the CPN-UML has done a hasty job by breaking the alliance in Sudurpashchim when the provincial government's term has less than a year remaining. He believes that one should not obstruct the passage of the budget presented by the government in which they are participating. He mentioned that no proposal has come from the Congress regarding government formation in Bagmati.
However, Congress and CPN-UML have not officially announced the collapse of the ruling alliance. In the event of the collapse of the ruling alliance, the NCP, being the second-largest party in Bagmati, is preparing to form a government of consensus under its own leadership. Jampattel argues that it would be appropriate to form a government under the leadership of the NCP due to the growing mistrust between Congress and CPN-UML.
In Bagmati Province, Indrabahadur Baniya from Congress is currently the Chief Minister. Last year, on July 20, Baniya was appointed Chief Minister after removing Bahadur Singh Lama, who was the Chief Minister from Congress. At that time, the influence of two factions within Congress was evident.
Baniya belonged to the Deuba faction, while Lama belonged to the Gagan Thapa faction. Due to the division within Congress between the Deuba and Thapa factions, efforts to change the government were ongoing. As per the previous agreement, the CPN-UML had sought Congress's support to form a government under its own leadership in Bagmati, but it is alleged that Oli hesitated to cooperate in power-sharing after Thapa came to the party leadership.
Discussions on Shalikram and Ganganarayan for Chief Minister
Following the sudden collapse of the ruling alliance, the NCP is not inclined to support Congress or CPN-UML in the current situation. The center has not yet made an official decision regarding the reshuffling of the power equation. However, in the event that a government cannot be formed, the NCP has put forward three conditions for government formation. First, to form a government of consensus with the support of all three parties; second, the inability to form a government by supporting Congress or CPN-UML; and third, if a government cannot be formed at all, the concerned province should be given the authority to make decisions as needed. For this, the NCP is waiting for an official decision on the collapse of the alliance.
If a government is to be formed under the leadership of the NCP, former Chief Minister Shalikram Jampattel and former Law Minister Ganganarayan Shrestha are among the contenders for the Chief Minister's post. After the Provincial Assembly elections in 2079, Jampattel became Chief Minister from the then CPN (Maoist Center).
Shrestha was the Law Minister from the then Nepal Socialist Party. According to sources, Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal had assured Shrestha that he would be made Chief Minister if the party formed the government in Bagmati. It is claimed that Shrestha was assured of being the Chief Minister candidate in the CPN's central coordination committee meeting held in March-April.
'Ganganarayan ji had asked for a ticket from Sindhuli-2 in the House of Representatives elections held in February. But after Prachanda and Madhav gave the ticket to Lekhnath Dahal in Sindhuli, they had assured Ganga of making him the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province. He has staked his claim for the Chief Minister's post after not getting a ticket for the House of Representatives candidacy,' the source said.
Meanwhile, Jampattel, who has already served as Chief Minister once, is preparing to lead the province again if given the opportunity. The parliamentary party meeting held in the first week of Mangsir decided to make Jampattel the leader of the party. At that time, Krishna Khanal from the CPN (Unified Socialist) was made the deputy leader. Jampattel stated that he has no desire to become Chief Minister again.
'I have already been Chief Minister once. I have no desire to repeat it. If the party is in a position to lead the government, the center will decide on the Chief Minister,' he said.
Meanwhile, Ganganarayan Shrestha stated that the party has not made any decision as an official decision from Congress and CPN-UML regarding the collapse of the ruling alliance has not yet been received. 'It is not good to change the government when the term of the Provincial Assembly is less than a year. So far, the ruling parties have not made any decision about the collapse of the alliance. If a government cannot be formed, the party will decide,' Shrestha said.
Meanwhile, Saral Sahayatri Poudel, the Bagmati Province coordinator of the NCP, stated that the party is internally discussing what to do in case the alliance breaks. He clarified that in the event of the alliance breaking, the NCP would naturally take the initiative to lead the government. However, he asserted that he is not in the race to become Chief Minister.
'I am not in the race to become Chief Minister. We are not in favor of forming or dissolving the government when the term of the Provincial Assembly is very short, but if the dispute between Congress and CPN-UML leads to a situation where no government can be formed, the NCP will claim leadership of the government. The party will decide who becomes the Chief Minister. I am not in the race to become Chief Minister,' Poudel said.
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
