Sudurpashchim: Province chief gives parties seven days to form govt

DHANGADHI: Province Chief of Sudurpashchim Province, Debraj Joshi, has given political parties one week to make a claim for government formation.

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Province Chief invited political parties to make a claim for government formation by 5 pm on January 11.

Since the Sudurpashchim Province Assembly does not currently have a clear majority of any party to form a government as per Article 168 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, the province chief has called on assembly members to form a government with the support of more than two parties as outlined in Article 168(2).

Nepali Congress is the largest party in the 53-member province assembly with 19 seats followed by CPN (Maoist Center) with 11 seats, CPN-UML with 10 seats, Nagarik Unmukti Party with seven seats and CPN (Unified Socialist) with four seats. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party holds one seat, and there is one independent assembly member.

Parties must secure the support of at least 27 assembly members to form government in the province. The support of the Nagarik Unmukti Party is seen as crucial for the ruling coalition to be able to form a government in the province.

The Nagarik Unmukti Party, however, has stated that the release of its founder, Resham Chaudhary, and other party leaders and members is a condition for them to join the government.