The Nepali Communist Party (NCP), which left the federal and provincial governments in Asad 2082, is making a bet on joining the government with the provincial government leadership. With the collapse of the Congress-UML alliance in the Sudurpaschim government, the NCP has claimed the position of Chief Minister there.

Similarly, in Karnali, the Congress, NCP, and Samajwadi Party lawmakers have filed a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Yamalal Kandel and proposed Congress parliamentary party leader Jeevan Bahadur Shahi as the Chief Minister. 21 lawmakers are required to form a government in the 40-member Karnali Provincial Assembly. The Congress has 14 and the NCP has 14 lawmakers, so it has a clear majority. UML has 10 lawmakers. With the collapse of the Congress-UML alliance in the Sudur and Karnali provincial governments, the NCP has started preparing for a power alliance with the UML in Sudur and the Congress in Karnali. The NCP has made up its mind to join the government if there are problems in Lumbini and Bagmati in the Congress-UML alliance. The NCP is preparing to join the government in Lumbini and claim the post of Chief Minister in Bagmati.

Far West Chief Minister Shah dismissed four UML ministers

Lumbini Provincial Assembly NCP MP Indrajit Tharu said that he would join the NCP government if a new coalition is formed. 'If a new coalition is formed, we will join the government,' he said. The Congress has been expressing dissatisfaction with the Lumbini government's budget.

The current strength of the 87-member Lumbini Provincial Assembly is 83. 42 MPs are required to form a government. The Congress has 27 and the NCP has 13 MPs. Since both of them will be 40, the Congress-NCP will have to lure small parties including Nagarik Unmukti, RPP, JSP and Janamat for the insufficient 2 MPs. The alliance between the UML-NCP reaches exactly 43. The UML has 29 MPs in the Provincial Assembly.

Similarly, former Chief Minister and MP Shalikram Jamkattel said that the NCP will claim the Chief Minister's post if a new alliance is formed in Bagmati. 'Although there is dissatisfaction with the Congress-UML alliance in Bagmati Province, it remains. If a new alliance is formed with us, our claim to the Chief Minister's post remains,' he said. Although the UML minister in Bagmati is preparing to resign, it has been stopped till Thursday evening.

Resignation of 4 Karnali ministers accepted

Even though there is a 110-member Bagmati Provincial Assembly, 6 MP posts are vacant, 2/2 from the Congress and UML, 1/1 from the CPN and RPP. There are currently 104 MPs in the Provincial Assembly. A majority of 53 MPs is required to form a government. The Congress has 36 MPs and the CPN has 26 MPs. A Congress-NCP government can be formed easily. The UML has 25 MPs in Bagmati. This alliance will have to join hands with the RPP or the Nepali Party for 2 more MPs to form a CPN-UML government. RPP has 12 seats, Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party has 3 and Hamro Nepali Party has 2 seats.

The NCP has already held parallel talks with the Congress and UML to take the leadership of the Far Western Province and other possible provinces and participate in the government. NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal has held talks with Congress President Gagan Thapa and UML President KP Sharma Oli this week. Dahal has gone to Sri Lanka for a program, so after his return, the decision on forming an alliance in other provinces including the Far Western Province will be taken. ‘It will be clearer about forming an alliance in other provinces after the coordinator returns,’ said Jwala, ‘Even now, there have been talks with the Congress and UML at the center and in the provinces.’

The NCP (Maoist and Unified Socialists), which was out of power after the Congress-UML alliance was formed at the center last Ashar, has opened the way for the NCP (Maoist and Unified Socialists), which was out of power after the Congress-UML alliance was formed at the center last Ashar, to claim the leadership of the provincial government with the clash between the Congress and UML in the provinces.

NCP spokesperson Prakash Jwala said that his party has a claim to the post of Chief Minister of the Far West government. ‘We have a claim to the post of Chief Minister of the Far West province,’ he said, ‘Discussions are being held accordingly.’

‘Break’ in the collaboration of Congress-UML province government

NCP has demanded that Congress’s Kamal Bahadur Shah resign in the Far West. There have been talks between the NCP and UML about forming an alliance. There are 15 members of the NCP and 11 of the UML in the Far West provincial assembly. The NCP has claimed the post of Chief Minister by removing Congress Chief Minister Shah. There are 21 members of the Congress in the provincial assembly.

Since the NCP is standing against Karnali Province Chief Minister Yamalal Kandel, there is a strong possibility that Congress’s Jeevan Bahadur Shahi will become the Chief Minister.

Although it would be appropriate to form a provincial government of the parties that drafted the constitution as much as possible, Jwala said that it is not possible due to the conflict between Congress and UML. ‘We want the Congress, UML and NCP to form a provincial government together as much as possible, and not to compete for power,’ he said. ‘The conflict that started with the Congress and UML government in the Far West did not seem possible.’

Even if the alliance between the Congress and UML in Sudur and Karnali breaks down, cooperation with the UML in other provinces is still ongoing, said Congress General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire. ‘Our view is that it is better for one party to remain in the opposition than for the Congress, UML and NCP to form a ruling coalition in the provinces,’ he said. ‘Therefore, even if the alliance with the UML in Sudur breaks down, it does not mean that we should not go together in other provinces. There can be cooperation with the UML in other provinces as well.’

He said that the discussion between NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Congress president Gagan Thapa has opened the door to cooperation. ‘There has been a discussion between the two leaders to keep the door open for cooperation in the provinces,’ he said. He informed that discussions are underway to allow the provinces to exercise their power coalition freely.

UML Secretary Padma Aryal said that problems arose in the alliance in the Far West after Congress Chief Minister Shah dismissed four UML ministers. ‘The alliance has suffered problems after our minister was dismissed. Now there will be discussions for another alliance,’ she said.