Koshi Province Faces Potential 10th Chief Minister Amidst Shifting Alliances

Biratnagar. After ministers from the Province 1 and Karnali Province governments resigned, the alliance between the two parties in the Bagmati Province government has finally broken. With the collapse of the UML-Congress alliance, leaders say preparations are underway for a new alliance between the two leftist parties, UML and CPN (Maoist Centre).

UML MP and Central Committee member, Hom Bahadur Thapa, stated that it is certain that the provincial government will now be formed by leftist parties uniting. He said that the leftist parties are working to form a new alliance, keeping in mind the upcoming elections. 'With the aim of uniting all leftist forces and considering the upcoming elections, a government of leftist parties will likely be formed in the provinces,' Thapa said.

With the certainty of a shift in the power समीकरण, the decision on who will lead the Koshi Province is yet to be finalized in the center. Thapa mentioned that the decision could be finalized on Thursday after UML Chairman Oli meets with Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Wednesday after returning from Janakpur, regarding which party will lead which province.

According to MP Thapa, if the Koshi Province leadership falls under UML's share, there is a strong possibility of a new face emerging from within UML for the Chief Minister post. Based on the presence of parties in the Provincial Assembly, UML's claim in Koshi is strong, he said. 'Where one party has a slightly larger number, a policy will be made accordingly. In that case, there is a possibility of UML's Chief Minister again in Koshi,' MP Thapa said.

Although the central leadership will decide whether to continue with the current Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki or bring in a new one, Tilkumar Menyangbo from UML and Indrabahadur Angbo (Mausam) from CPN (Maoist Centre) are being discussed for the Chief Minister race. MP Thapa indicated that Tilkumar Menyangbo has the highest probability if the Chief Minister post goes to UML. 'If the current Chief Minister needs to be replaced, our senior leader Tilkumar Menyangbo is the one,' Thapa said.

While changing the leadership might make the current Chief Minister feel insulted, UML appears to be in a compulsion to move forward based on political circumstances and consensus. Current Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki has also stated that he will hand over the post smoothly, but insists that it must be done through proper procedures. It is rumored that UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli is trying to bring in Menyangbo by removing Karki, accusing him of changing sides within his group. Thapa, however, said that Chairman Oli will make the decision. 'According to our understanding with Congress, we should have given the Chief Minister post to Congress. But since Congress is out of the alliance, anyone can become Chief Minister based on consensus.'

Rajendra Kumar Rai, who is also the Koshi Province In-charge of CPN (Maoist Centre), has stated that the next Chief Minister will be Indrabahadur Angbo from his party. Rai has expressed the view that Angbo should become the Chief Minister from CPN (Maoist Centre), with Party Chairman Prachanda and Co-Convenor Madhav Kumar Nepal present. 'Since CPN UML has led the government in Koshi Province for a long time (about four years), we have argued that it is now our party's turn,' said leader Rai. 'The government was formed with our support, and it's not possible for them (UML) alone to lead for five years in turns. The only candidate for Chief Minister from our party is Indrabahadur Angbo.'

Harkabahadur Nemwang, Chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) Koshi Province, also returned to Biratnagar on Wednesday after meeting with leaders in Kathmandu. He met with Party Chairman Prachanda and UML Vice Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa, and stated that while the leftist cooperation is certain, the decision on who will lead the government in Koshi is yet to be made.

'Leaders from both parties have spoken about leftist cooperation. We have said that the government in Koshi should be formed under the leadership of CPN (Maoist Centre),' Nemwang said. 'We hope that the leaders will make a decision accordingly.'

Nemwang stated that a package agreement on which province will have which Chief Minister will be reached among top leaders in Kathmandu within the next few days. If Koshi Province falls under UML's share as the largest party, Tilkumar Menyangbo will be the main contender for Chief Minister, while if it falls under CPN (Maoist Centre) according to the leftist समीकरण, Indrabahadur Angbo is likely to take the leadership. This government, if formed after the change, will be the tenth government since the establishment of Koshi Province and the seventh government of the second term of the Provincial Assembly.