Karnali Chief Minister Kandel resigns

SURKHET: Karnali Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel has resigned from his position.

Kandel announced his resignation during the meeting of the Karnali Province Assembly on Saturday.

Kandel’s resignation follows the signing of the three-point agreement between his party, CPN-UML, and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), formerly CPN (Maoist Center), on Saturday. As per the agreement, UML will lead governments in Koshi, Bagmati and Lumbini with NCP’s support, while NCP will form government in Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces.

Kandel first became Chief Minister from CPN-UML on March 20, 2024, leading a coalition government of UML and the then-CPN (Maoist Center).

After nearly four months, UML decided to ditch the Maoist Center and formed a new government with Nepali Congress (NC). As a result, Kandel secured the vote of confidence in the provincial assembly for the second time on August 5, 2024, leading a UML-Nepali Congress coalition government. The two parties had agreed to rotate the government’s leadership among themselves.

NC ministers in Kandel’s government resigned on July 15 after the party decided to quit the alliance with UML.