UML to stay in opposition in Koshi Province

KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has announced that it will not retract its vote of confidence extended to the Koshi Province Government.

The decision was made during a provincial parliamentary committee meeting held on Monday, according to Rebati Raman Bhandari, the chief whip of UML in the provincial assembly.

Some assembly members, including Buddhi Kumar Rajbhandari, were of the opinion that the party should join the government formed with its support.

“For the time being, we will not withdraw our support but will remain in the opposition within the provincial assembly,” he added.

Had the UML withdrawn its support, Chief Minister Kedar Karki would have been required to seek a fresh vote of confidence.

Previously, the UML had supported Kedar Karki, who aligns closely with the anti-establishment faction of the Nepali Congress (NC) led by Dr. Shekhar Koirala, in forming the government. This decision came after the NC had chosen Indra Angbo of CPN (Maoist Center) as the next chief minister of Koshi Province. Karki had also appointed Ram Bahadur Rana of UML as a minister in his cabinet.

However, the UML withdrew from the government when Karki included assembly members from the Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist) as ministers in his cabinet.