The government in Madhesh province has collapsed less than a month after it was formed due to internal Maoist conflict. The government led by LSP leader Jitendra Sonar collapsed on Saturday after the Maoists went against their commitment to not engage in the game of forming and breaking the government after the Gen-G movement. This government was formed just 25 days ago.

The parliamentary party could not reach a consensus due to internal conflict between Maoist leader Matrika Yadav and another party in the Madhesh Provincial Assembly. Two Maoist MPs, Rahbar Ansari and Mala Karna, who have 9 members in the Provincial Assembly, took a stand not to vote, due to which Sonar failed to secure a majority.

Ansari and Karna were unhappy after the Yadav faction made Bharat Prasad Sah the parliamentary party leader. The other party became unhappy after Sah put forward his and another MP's names for ministerial posts. After Sonar's government fell into a minority, coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal called Ansari several times, but he did not pick up. 

Earlier, Ansari was close to Dahal. However, recently he had been saying that the Centre's imposition of a 'syndicate' was wrong. 'I have come to the conclusion that I will not support the Jitendra-led government because I should make my own decisions, not the Centre's instructions,' he said. 'The party government has lost its moral ground in Madhesh. There was a view that we should not go into government at this time, but the party did not agree. And I decided to stand against the government.' He said that the issues of the people, including Gen-G, should be raised on the streets.

There has been a struggle between leader Yadav and Girirajmani Pokharel in Madhesh. Karna, who is in the Pokharel group, had said that she would not support Sonar. Yadav, the leader of the establishment party, said that the provincial assembly members who go against the party policy should support the coalition government except for the UML with self-criticism. 'We want to form a coalition government in Madhesh except for the UML. But when two members of parliament did not support it, Jitendraji's government could not get a majority,' he said, 'This is an example of impunity growing within the party. Those who go against the party's decision should self-criticize. If they do not do that, the party should take action.' Parliamentary party leader Sah said that Ansari and Karna had seriously violated the party's decision and the parliamentary party would take the necessary decision. 

Sonar was supported by JSP Nepal, Janamat, Maoists, LSP and Unified Socialists. In Madhesh, there are 18 MPs from JSP Nepal, 13 from Janmat, 9 from Maoists, 8 from LSP and 7 from UPM, out of which 1 each from JSP Nepal and LSP are suspended. If two MPs from Maoists had supported the Sonar government, it would have had a majority. There are currently 104 MPs in the 107-member Madhesh Provincial Assembly. 53 MPs are needed to form a majority government.

Provincial Chief in consultation

Provincial Chief Sumitra Bhandari has started consulting experts to form a new government in Madhesh Province. Due to this, there will be no call for government formation for 2 more days. She has sought time for discussions in a meeting with the leaders and representatives of the seven parties represented in the Provincial Assembly.