Nepal’s Karnali Province Sees New Government Formation

Nepal’s Karnali Province is witnessing the formation of a new government, with the main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, and the Communist Party of Nepal (NCP) working together to establish a new administration.

The move comes after four ministers from the ruling Nepali Congress party resigned from the provincial government on 31 Ashar, leaving Chief Minister Yamlal Kandel in a minority. In response, 16 provincial assembly members, including 11 from the NCP and five from the Nepali Congress, filed a no-confidence motion against Kandel on 32 Ashar.

Assembly Meeting Postponed

The provincial assembly was scheduled to meet on 7 Shrawan to discuss the no-confidence motion, but the meeting was postponed due to special circumstances. The assembly will now meet on 9 Shrawan at 3 pm.

NCP leader Mangal Bahadur Shahi stated that his party would vote in favor of the no-confidence motion, paving the way for the formation of a new government. "We will move forward based on our decision," he said. "Now, the government will be formed under the leadership of the Nepali Congress. We do not see any alternative to this, and it is also not possible."

Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress in the provincial assembly, Hikmat Vishwakarma, attributed the party’s decision to move forward with the NCP to their mutual understanding. "We have proposed our party leader for the government’s leadership with the support of the NCP," he said. "Now, a new government will be formed soon with the equation of the Nepali Congress and the NCP."

The Karnali Province currently has 40 provincial assembly members, with 20 members required to form a government. The Nepali Congress has 15 members, while the NCP has 14.