Madhesh Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari has been removed from her post for failing to demonstrate minimum political conduct. The decision to remove her from her post was taken by the federal cabinet meeting on Monday after she mocked her position to appoint and swear in UML parliamentary party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as the Chief Minister.

While there was ongoing dispute between the parties over the path to a new appointment for the vacant Chief Minister's post, he created political conflict in Madhesh Province by using deceit instead of dialogue as a weapon. It was inevitable that Provincial Chief Bhandari would be punished for the political 'circus' shown by lying to the parties represented in the Provincial Assembly, appointing a new Chief Minister with a controversial date, and administering the oath at a hotel about 50 kilometers away from his office. This has been felt by the Council of Ministers meeting. This is positive. This has sent a message that political responsibility is not for arbitrary decisions, but for a sense of responsibility. Everyone in political and administrative positions can learn a lesson from Provincial Chief Bhandari.

After Jitendra Sonar (Sonal), who was appointed as the Chief Minister under Article 168 (2) of the Constitution, resigned, there was a dispute between the parties as to which article the new Chief Minister would be formed. The seven political parties represented in the provincial assembly, the Congress, the JSP, the LSP, the Maoist Center, the Unified Socialist Party, the Janmat Party and the Nagarik Unmukti Party, had also urged on Sunday to start the process of forming a new government according to Article 168 (2). The largest party in the provincial assembly had said that the process of forming a government should start according to Article 168 (3). The parties' respective efforts are natural. However, the provincial chief Bhandari had the option of moving forward according to the articles and clauses that she herself agreed to. After that, the party with a different opinion could have gone to court for constitutional interpretation. However, Bhandari probably appointed the chief minister on a 'backdated' date and administered the oath in a hotel, thereby abrogating her constitutional obligations and political conduct.

In the working style and decisions of those holding constitutional positions, political solutions and positive use of the constitution should always be given priority. Dialogue should be given priority. But Chief Minister Bhandari's working style did not seem to be oriented towards that. She could have also decided the decisions she would take with political understanding and dialogue. She could have presented her beliefs among the parties. But by moving forward in an irresponsible manner, Madhesh Province has become a center of sabotage and accusations. It is difficult for the alleged Chief Minister Yadav to easily assume office, take decisions and implement them. RPP Central Chairman Rajendra Lingden has already instructed RPP's Kanchan Bichha, whom he made a minister, to return from the ministry. This also makes it clear how fraudulent this entire process was. It is not appropriate for a provincial chief to be the bearer of political fraud. The chiefs of all seven provinces should take care of this issue.

Along with the exercise of federalism, the provincial government also came into practice in 2074 BS. Since then, controversial games of power politics have been going on. With power politics getting priority in almost all provinces, federalism itself is being discredited. In such a situation, many eyes were on Madhesh Province. Because Madhesh Province is the birthplace of Nepali federalism. No matter what happens in other provinces, supporters of federalism used to expect Madhesh to carry the essence of federalism. But Monday's events showed that Madhesh Province is also adept at power struggles, not federalism. This is a very disappointing situation for federalism supporters. If this is to be turned into hope again, the pro-federalism parties and stakeholders should immediately start working to turn the situation into hope. Mainly, the parties represented in the provincial assembly should instill confidence in keeping the provincial politics under their control and finding a way out using their own discretion.

The excessive interference of the leaders of the big parties is also the main reason for the chaos in provincial politics. They have interfered in provincial activities such as who will be given the posts of Chief Minister, Minister, Minister of State, Speaker/Deputy Speaker, party leader, whip, with whom to collaborate in power, and what kind of alliance to form and break. Strangely, as with every federal power alliance, there is also a provincial power alliance. The central leadership of the parties never facilitated the parliamentary parties of the provinces to use their discretion and mature. For example, the Janmat Party center showed more activity to get the Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh, who preceded Sonal, removed from his post. This time too, the coordinator of the Maoist Center (now the Nepali Communist Party), was interfering in the change of leader of the provincial parliamentary party. He had sent a letter to the provincial speaker informing him that it had been decided to reinstate Bharat Prasad Shah as the leader of the Madhesh Provincial Parliamentary Party. Such activity and interference does not allow the province to move forward naturally. All parties need to improve such behavior.