Nepal’s Ruling Party Warns of Mid-Term Polls Amid Government Change

Nepal’s ruling party, CPN-UML, has warned of the possibility of mid-term polls in Province 1 amid a potential change in the provincial government.

CPN-UML’s chief whip in Province 1, Ram Kumar Basnet, briefed party leaders, including federal lawmakers, provincial parliamentary party leaders, and departmental chiefs, about the current situation in the province.

Basnet emphasized that the provincial government was formed under Article 168 (5) of the constitution, which does not require a whip and allows for the formation of a government without a majority.

He stated that while he personally believed the CPN-UML should continue to lead the government, any decision to change the government should take this into account.

Government Change Complicated

With 92 members in the 93-member provincial assembly, the CPN-UML has 40 seats, the Nepali Congress has 29, the Nepal Communist Party has 17, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has 4, and the Janata Samajbadi Party has 1.

Forming a government without the CPN-UML would be challenging, and previous attempts to do so have required the application of Article 168 (5).

Basnet noted that if the province were to go to mid-term polls, it would be in line with the constitution, but otherwise, a decision should be made with caution.

Intense Negotiations Underway

Following the Nepali Congress’s decision to withdraw its support from the CPN-UML-led provincial governments, intense negotiations are underway between the parties.

Both the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress are in talks with the Nepal Communist Party about a potential power-sharing agreement.