Himal Press 
NCP leaders informing Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna about the party's decision.
KATHMANDU: The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has also withdrawn from the Madhesh Province government led by the Nepali Congress (NC).
All four NCP ministers in the provincial government jointly submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav on Friday. NCP parliamentary party leader Yubaraj Bhattarai also submitted a letter withdrawing the party’s support to Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna.
Bhattarai was serving as Minister of Finance in the Yadav-led government. The other NCP ministers were Minister for Home, Communications and Law Fakira Mahato, Minister for Energy, Irrigation and Water Supply Jawaharlal Kushwaha and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism Kanish Patel.
Earlier, the CPN-UML withdrew its ministers from the government and pulled out its support on October 16.
With both the UML and the NCP withdrawing their support, Chief Minister Yadav is facing an uphill task to keep his government in power.
Yadav became Chief Minister on December 5 last year under Article 168(2) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015. His appointment was backed by 22 lawmakers from the NC, 18 from the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal, 13 from the Janamat Party, nine from the then CPN (Maoist Centre), eight from the then Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and seven from the then CPN (Unified Socialist).
However, the Janamat Party, which had a minister in the government, withdrew its support on May 4. Following the withdrawal, Yadav sought a vote of confidence on May 22.
Before seeking the vote of confidence, he changed the ruling coalition and restructured the cabinet by bringing the UML and the NCP into the government while excluding JSP Nepal.
At the time, JSP Nepal had issued a whip directing its lawmakers to support Yadav in his floor test. However, after the chief minister reshuffled the coalition, the party moved to the opposition.
With JSP Nepal already out of the government and the UML, NCP and Janamat Party withdrawing their support, the Yadav-led government now appears increasingly vulnerable.
UML, JSP Nepal and NCP prepare for new alliance
Meanwhile, political parties have begun preparations to form a new government in Madhesh. Leaders say JSP Nepal, the UML and the NCP are exploring a new power-sharing arrangement.
JSP Nepal has become the largest party in the province with 27 lawmakers following its merger with the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) Nepal. UML has 23 provincial assembly members, while the NCP has 15. The NC has 22 lawmakers and the Janamat Party has 12.
A majority of 54 lawmakers is required to form a government in the 107-member provincial assembly. JSP Nepal, UML and NCP have the required numbers to cross that threshold.
Leaders said discussions were underway among the three parties to form a government under former Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav, who also leads JSP’s provincial parliamentary party.
A day after the UML withdrew from the government, JSP Nepal Chairperson Upendra Yadav and former Chief Minister Yadav held talks with UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli.
