Nagarik Unmukti factions submit separate claims to form govt in Sudurpashchim

KATHMANDU: Two assembly members of Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) have submitted separate claims to Province Chief Nazir Miyan to form the government in Sudurpashchim.

Less than an hour after Laxman Kishor Chaudhary submitted his claim with the support of the Nepali Congress, CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Kailash Chaudhary staked his claim for government formation with the support of CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN-UML.

The Province Chief had given parties until 5 pm on Sunday to make their claims for government formation.

While Laxman Kishor is close to Nagarik Unmukti Patron Resham Lal Chaudhary, Kailash belongs to the faction led by party chairperson Ranjita Shrestha. As the dispute between Resham and Ranjita, who are married to each other, heightened Ranjita fired province assembly member Indira Giri from the party, while she has suspended another province assembly member Ghanashyam Chaudhary for three months.

Ghanashyam was serving as the parliamentary party leader of Nagarik Unmukti Party in the Sudurpashchim Province Assembly.

Interestingly, both Laxman Kishore and Kailash have counted the support of seven assembly members of Nagarik Unmukti Party in their respective claims submitted to the Province Chief.

Nepali Congress is the largest party in the 53-member province assembly with 18 members, while the Maoist Center has 11, UML has 10, Nagarik Unmukti has eight, Unified Socialist has four and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has one.

The chief minister aspirants must secure the support of 27 members to form government in the province.