Karnali Province: Jeevan Bahadur Shahi to Become Chief Minister Again Amidst No-Confidence Motion

Surkhet. Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party, is set to become the Chief Minister of Karnali Province for the second time. He is becoming the Chief Minister for the second time with the support of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN).

On Thursday, 16 MPs including CPN and Congress registered a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel.

This has paved the way for Shahi to become the Chief Minister. On Thursday, Congress, which was participating in the CPN-led government, recalled its four ministers. Without withdrawing support, on Thursday, it suddenly registered a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Kandel in alliance with the CPN, which was in opposition.

What is in the no-confidence motion?

Regarding the above, we, the undersigned members of the Karnali Province Assembly, have submitted a written no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister of the Karnali Province Government, the Honorable Mr. Yamlal Kandel, stating that we do not have confidence in the Karnali Province Assembly, in accordance with Article 188 (4) of the Constitution of Nepal and Rule 152 (2) of the Karnali Province Assembly Rules, 2079. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 188 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal, we propose the Honorable Member of the Karnali Province Assembly, Mr. Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, for the post of Chief Minister of the Karnali Province Government.

Therefore, we request that this notice be registered and included in the agenda of the next session for necessary proceedings as per Rule 152 (3) of the Karnali Province Assembly Rules, 2079.

The MPs who signed the no-confidence motion include CPN's party leader Mangal Bahadur Shahi, Krishna Bahadur GC, Urmila Bishwakarma, Kalyani Khadka, Jhumkti Lama, Bir Bahadur Shahi, Bhim Prakash Sharma, Mahendra KC, Milan Khadka Roka, and Ramsingh Pariyar. Congress includes Hikmat Bahadur Bist, Bedraj Singh, Suresh Adhikari, Bijaya Budha, and Krishna Kumar BC. Former Chief Minister Rajkumar Sharma, who is currently without a party, has also joined. Although the leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party, Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, is in Surkhet, he has not signed the motion.

Why was the no-confidence motion registered instead of withdrawing support?

Congress Chief Whip Hikmat Bahadur Bist said that the no-confidence motion was registered because the Chief Minister did not resign. 'Our ministers resigned collectively yesterday, and after that, the government fell into a minority,' he told Ratopati. 'We expected that the Chief Minister would resign after falling into a minority, but he did not resign.'

He stated that Kandel's term had already exceeded the agreed-upon half-term. He added, 'We expected him to pave the way. When that didn't happen, we had to adopt this path.'

Bist said that after the four ministers left, it was equivalent to withdrawing support, but the Chief Minister did not understand this. 'Now, whether he resigns or faces it is his decision,' he added. 'If he resigns, things will move forward in one way. If he says he will face it and take it to the house, then it will be discussed in the house.'

What agreement was reached with the CPN?

Bist said that there was no agreement with the CPN at present. 'There is no such agreement right now. For now, let's do this, let's do this much about this, nothing else has been done,' he said.