Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has withdrawn its support for the Madhesh Province government.
The party’s decision to quit the ruling coalition has pushed Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav’s government into a political crisis.
The UML withdrew its support after its four ministers resigned from the government led by Nepali Congress leader Yadav.
UML Chief Whip in the Madhesh Provincial Assembly, Hari Narayan Mahato, said the UML parliamentary party had formally informed the Province Chief about its decision.
UML had four ministers in Yadav’s government—Minister for Education Navaraj Singh, Minister for Social Welfare Lakhan Das, Minister for Labor and Transport Sharada Thapa and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Mohammad Samir.
The chief minister’s secretariat has confirmed that all four UML ministers have submitted their resignations.
The UML has 24 members in the 107-member Madhesh Provincial Assembly.
Yadav, leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party, became chief minister on December 5 last year under Article 168(2) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015. He was appointed with the support of 22 lawmakers from the NC, 18 from Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal, 16 from the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), 13 from Janamat Party and eight from the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) Nepal.
However, Janamat Party, which had also joined the government, withdrew its support on May 4. Following the withdrawal, Yadav secured a vote of confidence on May 22.
Before seeking the confidence vote, Yadav had reshuffled his coalition, removing JSP Nepal from the government and bringing in the UML and the CPN.
The UML has now withdrawn its support six months after joining the government.
JSP Nepal had issued a whip directing its lawmakers to support Yadav during the confidence vote. However, after Yadav changed the ruling coalition, JSP Nepal moved to the opposition benches.
With JSP Nepal already out of the government and Janamat Party having previously withdrawn its support, Yadav faces an uphill battle to secure another vote of confidence.
The CPN, which has been sharing power with the UML in other provinces, is also reportedly preparing to leave Yadav’s government.
Without the support of other parties, Yadav is unlikely to secure a majority in the Provincial Assembly.
A majority of 54 is needed to form a government in the Madhesh Province Assembly.
JSP Nepal has 26 members, the CPN has 16 and Janamat Party has 13 in the provincial legislature.
