Lumbini Province Government Formation Uncertain as Alliances Shift

Butwal. Uncertainty remains over the government formation in Lumbini Province after the alliance between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML at the provincial level broke. The three largest parties in the province, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), are currently awaiting directives from the center.

While the parties have stated they will abide by the central decision, they have intensified political discussions and meetings at the provincial level in their own ways. After the Congress decided to break the alliance with the UML, the CPN, which is the third largest force in the provincial assembly, has also increased its political activity.

Currently, in Lumbini Province, CPN-UML's Chet Narayan Acharya is the Chief Minister. Although the alliance between Congress and UML has been broken in other provinces, efforts are being made at the provincial level to continue the Congress-UML cooperation in Lumbini.

Nepali Congress Lumbini Province President Amar Singh Pun informed that based on the current situation, the UML appears to be in favor of continuing cooperation in Lumbini, regardless of what happens in other provinces. He stated that discussions are ongoing with the Chief Minister regarding this.

'Discussions are underway regarding continuing the power-sharing in Lumbini. Necessary directives may come after the dialogue at the center,' Pun said.

Considering the possibility of maintaining the power-sharing, the Congress has not recalled its ministers immediately.

Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya has gone to Kathmandu to discuss the latest political developments. Although Chief Minister Acharya, who reached Kathmandu on Sunday evening, has met with various leaders, he has not publicly disclosed the subject of the meetings or the directives received.

'There is no need to inform the media about all meetings held in Kathmandu,' he told Rato Pati yesterday. His personal secretary, Pradip Nepali, informed that Chief Minister Acharya is still in Kathmandu.

Jumuna Dhakal, Chief Whip of the Congress in Lumbini Province, stated that there has been no new decision regarding changes in the provincial government recently. 'We are waiting for directives from the center,' she said.

UML leader and Lumbini Province Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Ratna Khatri, said that they are in favor of Congress, UML, and CPN moving forward together. However, he stated that the final decision depends on the directives from the center. 'We are in favor of moving forward together, but this matter depends on the directives from the center,' Khatri said.

Khatri added that it will be clearer how the government alliance will proceed after Chief Minister Acharya returns to Dang.

Jokh Bahadur Mahara, leader of the CPN's parliamentary party in Lumbini Province, said that they are not paying much attention to the problems seen within Congress and UML. He stated that they will proceed according to the directives from the center.

In Lumbini Province, Chet Narayan Acharya was appointed Chief Minister in July 2081 BS according to the power-sharing agreement formed between Congress and UML. Currently, Congress, UML, and other smaller parties are participating in the provincial government.

No situation to join the government at present: Mahara

In Lumbini Province, if the power-sharing between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML changes, CPN will emerge as the decisive force. With 13 seats in the provincial assembly, CPN will be crucial for both sides to gather the necessary majority to form a government.

Jokh Bahadur Mahara, leader of the CPN's parliamentary party and former Chief Minister, says that his party is not in favor of joining the government immediately. According to him, CPN's role will become decisive only when Congress withdraws its support from the government or the Chief Minister removes Congress ministers.

'First, Congress must withdraw its vote of confidence, or the UML Chief Minister and ministers must be removed. Only then will the ball be in our court,' Mahara said. 'In that situation, our first condition will be to support those who seek cooperation to run the government.' However, he clearly stated that CPN will not join the government merely to become ministers or to 'wave flags'.

No meeting with any top leader: Chief Minister Acharya

He stated that there is no immediate possibility of becoming ministers as UML and Congress have already passed the budget together. 'We are not going to the government just to wave flags. We are not participating in the current budget. Therefore, we cannot become ministers with that same budget,' Mahara said.

According to him, if CPN were to join the government, a condition would be set to rewrite the budget. He argued that it would not be appropriate for the three parties to form a government in the province, giving the public the impression that old parties have colluded for power-sharing.

'The discussion of the three parties running the government together is wrong. The public already has the perception that old parties have colluded. If we go to form a government in the province in the same way, it will have a worse impact on the public,' he said.

Mahara stated that even if a decision comes from the center to form a communist alliance and move forward, it should be implemented only on a long-term and clear basis. 'We cannot engage in politics of forming and breaking fronts repeatedly like children. If a communist alliance is to be formed, it must be on a long-term and clear basis,' he said.

He admitted that CPN is holding talks with both UML and Congress in Lumbini Province. However, he stated that such discussions have no real meaning unless the objective and political basis for joining the government are clear.

He told Rato Pati that it is natural for CPN, as the third force in the provincial assembly, to stake a claim for the Chief Minister's post when participating in discussions related to government formation. 'When parties come to discuss with the third force, it is natural to claim the Chief Minister's post. That claim and condition are political, but we have not reached that point yet,' he said.

In the Lumbini Provincial Assembly, there are 29 UML, 27 Congress, and 13 CPN members. In the 83-member provincial assembly, at least 42 members' support is required to form a government. If the Congress-UML alliance changes, CPN will become the decisive force.