ITAHARI: President Ram Chandra Poudel and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba have exerted pressure on Kedar Karki to withdraw his claim for government formation in Koshi Province, a source close to NC leader Dr Shekhar Koirala has claimed.
Karki, who has the support of Dr Koirala, made the claim for government formation in Koshi Province with the backing of CPN-UML on Thursday, following NC’s decision to back CPN (Maoist Center) leader Indra Angbo as the next chief minister.
Dr. Koirala leads the anti-establishment faction within the NC.
Angbo has also submitted his claim for government formation with the support of four parties in the ruling coalition – NC, Maoist Center, CPN (Unified Socialist), and Janata Samajbadi Party.
Chief Minister Parshu Ram Khapung has set a deadline of 5 pm on Friday for parties to stake their claim for government formation.
Angbo has shown the support of all 29 assembly members of NC in his claim, although eight of them have expressed their support for Karki. Province Chief Parshuram Khapung is now preparing to ask assembly members to declare their support in person before deciding who will become the next chief minister fo the province.
“President Poudel is urging us to withdraw our claim. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has also relayed President Deuba’s message that Karki’s claim should be withdrawn,” the source told Himal Press.
Dr. Koirala has vehemently opposed NC’s decision to support Angbo, who only has 13 members in the 93-member province assembly, for the position of chief minister. “I decided to support our own candidate for chief minister after the NC leadership attempted to weaken NC’s presence in Koshi Province, as they have done in the center,” Dr Koirala told his close associates, according to the source. “This is my effort to secure the future of NC. We rather remain in the opposition instead of being a weak partner in the government.”
The General Secretaries, Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, have voiced their support for Deuba’s decision. Thapa is said to have close ties to Dr. Koirala.
