Lumbini Chief Minister Chetanarayan Acharya States No Top Leader Meetings Amidst Political Speculation

Butwal. Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chetanarayan Acharya has stated that he has not yet met with any top leaders. Various speculations are rife about the possibility of the central government's decision by the Nepali Congress to end its power-sharing with the CPN (UML) affecting the provincial government, but Chief Minister Acharya said so. He reached Kathmandu on Sunday evening. In a conversation with RatoPati, he said that he has not met any leader so far. 'Let's see who I meet now. I haven't met anyone yet,' he said. Chief Minister Acharya also said that it is not necessary to make all meetings public. In Lumbini Province, Acharya was appointed Chief Minister according to the power equation reached between the Nepali Congress and UML in July 2081 BS. Even though the Congress at the center has decided to end the partnership with the UML, it is said that in Lumbini, the Congress is in favor of continuing the current power equation as much as possible. Meanwhile, discussions have started that CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is preparing to discuss the new power equation of the provincial government with the UML after returning from Sri Lanka. A member of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly from UML said that there is a possibility of a new alliance being formed between UML and Maoist Center. According to him, UML has 29 and Maoist Center has 13 members in the Provincial Assembly. If both parties unite, they will have 42 members, which is enough to form a government. However, since the Speaker was elected from the Maoist Center, there is a constitutional provision that he cannot vote in the initial phase in matters related to confidence votes or government formation. Therefore, it is estimated that the support of smaller parties or independent members may be necessary to ensure a majority if needed.