Although there is an agreement between UML and NCP to form the provincial government, Chief Minister Surendra Pandey appears 'secure' in Gandaki due to the Congress majority in the provincial assembly.
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While the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) reached an agreement on Saturday to form joint governments in the provinces, Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey appears to be ‘secure’ in Gandaki. UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal agreed that UML would lead Koshi, Bagmati, and Lumbini, while the CPN (Maoist Centre) would lead Karnali and Sudurpaschim.
Compared to other provinces, the Congress-led government in Gandaki is stronger, which is why Chief Minister Pandey appears to be confidently secure. In the 59-member provincial assembly, a majority requires 30 members. The Congress has 27 members. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has 2, and Nepal Socialist Party (Nespa) member Phanindra Devkota had already expressed support for Pandey. If these three members continue their support, Congress will have a majority. Besides them, UML has 22 and the CPN (Maoist Centre) has 7 members. Of the 7 from the CPN (Maoist Centre), Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital cannot vote.
Seeing that they cannot gain a majority in Gandaki, the final point of the UML–CPN (Maoist Centre) agreement states, ‘Regarding the formation of governments in Madhesh Province and Gandaki Province, the leadership and participation in government will be determined in consultation with other political parties represented in the provincial assembly.’
Earlier, after learning that Congress members themselves were maneuvering to remove him as leader of the parliamentary party, Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey reshuffled the ministerial ‘set’ on 2 Baisakh. The dispute subsided after he included MPs aligned with party president Gagan Thapa in the cabinet.
After the coalition changed at the center, on 17 Bhadra 2081, UML joined the government by taking four ministries and supporting Congress’s Pandey as chief minister. At that time, there was an agreement between Congress and UML to share the leadership of the government for half the term each.
Last Bhadra, while efforts were underway to reorganize the government under UML parliamentary party leader Khagaraj Adhikari, the Gen-Z movement erupted. According to the agreement, Adhikari should have become chief minister. However, due to the Gen-Z movement, which opposed alternating governments at the federal and provincial levels, and the subsequent situation, the view that the government should not be changed became stronger, and it appeared that the numbers would not suffice. As a result, UML showed no interest in changing the government.
Even if support is withdrawn, Congress would still have a majority, so UML is not in favor of changing the government, according to CPN (Maoist Centre) parliamentary party leader Hari Chuman. ‘There is no situation where RPP will shift sides, and UML knows that withdrawing support will not change anything,’ he says. ‘We have also told them to continue running the government. We will remain in opposition for the entire term.’ He says that the situation regarding what would happen if Congress and UML do not cooperate will be assessed at that time.
UML parliamentary party leader Khagaraj Adhikari says the current government will be continued for stability and continuity. ‘We have not yet considered what will happen if another situation arises,’ he said. ‘Our aim is to weaken the elements that thrive on instability.’
After the Gen-Z movement, Nespa’s Phanindra Devkota resigned from his ministerial post in the Pandey-led government. However, he has not withdrawn his support. Although a date was announced for a by-election in Deepak Manange’s constituency after he was convicted and served a sentence for attempted murder, it was postponed after the Gen-Z movement.
Earlier, on 25 Poush 2079, Adhikari was appointed chief minister for the first time with the support of the then Maoist Centre, RPP, and independent MP Deepak Manange. On 10 Chaitra 2079, after the power equation changed at the center, the Maoist Centre withdrew its support from the government, causing it to fall into a minority.
On 9 Baisakh 2080, Chief Minister Adhikari failed to secure a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly, and his government collapsed. On 14 Baisakh 2080, Congress parliamentary party leader Surendra Raj Pandey was appointed chief minister with the support of the Maoist Centre. On 22 Falgun 2080, after a new UML–Maoist Centre alliance was formed at the center, Chief Minister Pandey dismissed the Maoist ministers.
On 21 Chaitra 2080, seeing that he would not be able to secure a vote of confidence, Pandey resigned from his post. On 25 Chaitra, Khagaraj Adhikari submitted a claim to the chief ministership for the second time with the support of the Speaker and was appointed chief minister the same day. Congress called this unconstitutional and filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court.
On 23 Baisakh 2081, although it was claimed that a majority had not been achieved, Adhikari was declared to have secured a vote of confidence by counting the support of 31 members, including the Speaker, in the 60-member provincial assembly.
On 14 Jestha 2081, the Supreme Court ruled that counting the Speaker’s vote for the vote of confidence was unconstitutional and annulled Khagaraj Adhikari’s appointment.
On 16 Jestha 2081, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order, Surendra Raj Pandey was reappointed chief minister as the leader of the largest party. On 28 Jestha 2081, Pandey secured a vote of confidence with the support of RPP and independent MP Deepak Manange. After the coalition changed at the center, the Maoists left the government, and on 17 Bhadra 2081, UML joined the government by taking four ministries.
