Lumbini Province Government Faces Political Turmoil as Congress Considers Resignations

Butwal. Following the Nepali Congress's central leadership's directive to take necessary initiatives for the formation of the provincial government, there has been a stir in Lumbini Province. The Congress has started internal discussions after the formation of a power alliance between UML and Nepali Communist Party. Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, leader of the Nepali Congress Lumbini Province Parliamentary Party, said that discussions in the province have been intensified according to the latest directive from the center. Chaudhary met with Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya on Monday morning. He also informed Ratopati that he had contacted the leader of the CPN Parliamentary Party, Jok Bahadur Mahara. Chaudhary informed that the resignation of ministers from the Congress participating in the government is still in a 'wait and see' state. 'The Chief Minister has said let's wait for some more time. Therefore, there is a situation to wait for some time regarding the resignation of ministers from our party participating in the government,' Chaudhary said, 'but looking at the situation at the center and the environment in other provinces, it is not possible to say what will happen by evening.' Five ministers from the Congress participating in the Lumbini Province government had submitted their collective resignations to the parliamentary party on Sunday itself. According to Jamuna Dhakal, Chief Whip of the Congress Parliamentary Party, although the ministers submitted their resignations, they could not be submitted on Sunday as Chief Minister Acharya was at a party program in Kapilvastu. Dhakal told Ratopati that when he spoke to the Chief Minister on the phone today, he was asked not to come at the moment, so the resignation has been 'on hold' for now. Ministers from the Congress in the Lumbini Province government include Saroj Thapa, Minister for Urban Development and Water Supply, Dhanendra Karki, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Prachanda Vikram Neupane, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Transport, Janmajaya Timilsena, Minister for Social Development, and Devkaran Kalwar, Minister for Forest and Environment. After the Congress ministers resign, the Congress will also withdraw the vote of confidence given to Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya. Then the way for the formation of a new alliance will be opened. However, Chief Minister Acharya is said to be facing challenges from within his own party, the CPN-UML. According to a UML MP, some leaders within the party are 'lobbying' in their own ways to become Chief Minister. It is rumored within the UML that former Chief Minister Lila Giri, former Minister for Physical Infrastructure Bhumishwar Dhakal, and former Minister for Health Bhoj Prasad Shrestha are lobbying in their own ways for the post of Chief Minister, the MP said. With the change in the power समीकरण in Lumbini Province, the power struggle within the UML has also started to surface.