Karnali CM Claim Deadline Set for Tuesday Evening

Surkhet. The deadline to submit a claim for the Chief Minister in Karnali is by 5 PM on Tuesday.

Province Chief Yagyaraj Joshi has called for the Chief Minister post claim to be submitted by 5:00 PM on July 12 by a Province Assembly member who can secure a majority with the support of two or more parties represented in the Province Assembly.

The government is currently without a leader since Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel resigned on Saturday. A power-sharing agreement has been formed between the Communist Party of Nepal and the CPN (UML) in the center, with Karnali allocated the Chief Minister post for the CPN (Maoist Centre).

However, formal dialogue has not yet begun between the leaders of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (UML) parliamentary parties. On Sunday morning, CPN (Maoist Centre) parliamentary party leader Mangal Bahadur Shahi and CPN (UML) parliamentary party leader Yamlal Kandel have gone to Kathmandu.

They will return to Surkhet only on Tuesday morning. In Kathmandu, the CPN (Maoist Centre) parliamentary party leader has already met with coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. Sources say he is also preparing to meet CPN (UML) Chairman KP Oli before returning to Surkhet.

If no political incident occurs in the meantime, Shahi is certain to become the Chief Minister. Shahi has stated that the claim for Chief Minister will be submitted within the stipulated time. Meanwhile, the CPN (UML) has given all responsibilities for activities to party leader Kandel. However, formal dialogue has not yet taken place between Kandel and Shahi.

'Generally, even a 'hello, hi' on the phone has not been a formal conversation,' says the source.

Kandel is angry, stating that his government fell disgracefully due to the CPN (Maoist Centre). Kandel, who is also a central secretary of the CPN (UML), was not heeded when he said, 'Discussions are ongoing for a communist alliance in the center, withdraw the no-confidence motion.'

For that reason, he resigned from his post on Saturday. Sources from the CPN (UML) say that he is meeting with the CPN (UML) Chairman and other leaders in Kathmandu. CPN (UML) MP Vinod Kumar Shah says, 'The situation arose where I had to resign because of the CPN (Maoist Centre), but an understanding was reached from above to immediately make the CPN (Maoist Centre) the Chief Minister.' He stated that this matter was not well received by the CPN (UML) in Karnali.

However, he says it depends on how the CPN (Maoist Centre) comes with a proposal for cooperation with the CPN (UML).

CPN (Maoist Centre) Province Chairperson Vimla KC also says that although it is somewhat uncomfortable because the resignation had to happen due to the CPN (Maoist Centre), there is no alternative but to implement the central decision. 'There are no major issues between other leaders; it is natural for the CPN (UML) party leader to be a bit angry,' says KC. 'Now, after the decision is made in the center, there is no option but to comply.'

KC said that discussions are ongoing between the leaders of both parties in the province.