In the first term after federalism, the most stable government model among the provincial governments was the government of Madhesh Province. But after the 2079 elections, it became such a center of intrigue and transactions between Madhesh parties that Madhesh has seen four Chief Ministers in the past three years. Now, a new Chief Minister will come to the Madhesh government again.
What you should know
Madhesh Province is set to get its fifth Chief Minister in three years. Four Chief Ministers have left the Madhesh Province government in the 36 months since the 2079 BS elections.
In the last three months alone, three Chief Ministers have been appointed in the Madhesh government. But with the resignation of UML's Saroj Kumar Yadav from the post of Chief Minister on Wednesday, the way has been opened for the formation of a new government.
In the first term after federalism, the most stable government model among the provincial governments was the government of Madhesh Province. But after the 2079 elections, it became such a center of intrigue and transactions among Madhesh parties that Madhesh has seen four Chief Ministers in the past three years. Now, a new Chief Minister will come to the Madhesh government again.
On Poush 29, immediately after the results of the 2079 Mangsir general election, Saroj Kumar Yadav of the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal became the Chief Minister of Madhesh Province. But with the change in the equation at the center, its direct impact was also seen in the provinces. On Jestha 23, 2081, Yadav was relieved of his post after failing to get a vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly.
Janmat Party MP Satish Kumar Singh was appointed as the Chief Minister of Madhesh Province on 25th Jestha 2081 with the support of UML, Maoist Center, Janmat, Unified Socialist, Nepal Federal Socialist Forum and Nagarik Unmukti Party. Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh resigned on 28th Asoj, accusing his own party Janmat of creating a mess and the parties participating in the government of going back on their promises. After that, two claims were made for the post of Chief Minister - Congress leader Krishna Prasad Yadav and Democratic Socialist Party leader Jitendra Prasad Sonal. Finally, after Janmat Parliamentary Party leader Mahesh Prasad Yadav sent a letter to the office of the provincial chief stating his official support for Sonal for the post of Chief Minister, Jitendra Sonal became the Chief Minister with the support of 56 provincial assembly members from five political parties including Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Janmat Party, Maoist Center, Democratic Socialist Party Nepal and Unified Socialist.
Sonal, who was appointed as Chief Minister on 29th Asoj, resigned after failing to receive a vote of confidence within 25 days of his appointment. With the situation of forming a government with the support of two or more parties still alive, Sumitra Subedi Bhandari, who became the provincial chief from the UML as the largest party, appointed UML's Saroj Kumar Yadav as the chief minister overnight and administered the oath at a hotel.
The provincial chief's move was widely criticized. The council of ministers recommended that provincial chief Bhandari be removed from office. 74 lawmakers, including the Congress, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, the then Maoist Center, and the Democratic Socialist Party, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against Yadav's appointment.
Hearing the writ petition claiming that the provincial government formed under Yadav's leadership was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court issued an interim order not to take policy decisions that would have long-term implications in the initial hearing and issued a brief order on Mangsir 15, giving Yadav an opportunity to confirm the vote of confidence within 24 hours.
Yadav resigned on Wednesday, Mangsir 17, after it was determined that he would not receive the vote of confidence. Lalbabu Raut served as Chief Minister for the entire five years in the first term of the Provincial Assembly. But in the 36 months of the second term of the Provincial Assembly, Madhesh is now looking for a 5th Chief Minister.
Like Madhesh, the governments of other provinces are also unstable. The Chief Minister has changed five times in Koshi Province. Similarly, the Chief Minister has changed three times in Bagmati, four times in Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim, and twice in Karnali.
