Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to make a claim for government formation in Koshi Province yet again.
A meeting of the party office-bearers held on Tuesday morning took a decision to this end.
Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav said the office-bearers advised NC President Deuba to hold consultations with coalition partners for forming a government in Koshi Province under NC’s leadership. “President Deuba later told office-bearers that he would hold discussions with senior leaders of the coalition partners accordingly,” Yadav added.
Earlier, NC’s parliamentary leader in the province, Uddhab Thapa, formed a government under his leadership twice. The Supreme Court ruled his election to the post of Chief Minister was unconstitutional on both attempts. In the first attempt, Thapa had used the signature of the incumbent Speaker to make a claim for government formation. In the second attempt, Thapa made NC assembly member Israil Mansuri, who was chairing the session in the absence of Deputy Speaker Sirjana Danuwar, give his confidence vote.
Parties in Koshi Province are holding discussions to form a government after Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki tendered his resignation on Saturday after realizing that he wouldn’t get a vote of confidence.
Province Chief Parshuram Khapung has given parties a timeframe until 5 pm on October 13 to form a government as per Article 168 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal. CPN-UML is the largest party in the provincial assembly with 40 members, including the Deputy Speaker. Likewise, Nepali Congress has 29, CPN (Maoist Center) has 13, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has six, CPN (Unified Socialist) has four, and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) has one member.
The ruling coalition of four parties – NC, Maoist Center, Unified Socialist – is preparing to bring RPP on board.
