ITAHARI: CPN-UML has called for the resignation of Koshi Chief Minister Kedar Karki following the formation of a new ruling alliance at the center.
Revati Raman Bhandari, UML’s chief whip in the Koshi Province Assembly, said that the chief minister must step down as the power dynamics at the center have changed. “Since Karki is part of the CPN (Maoist Center)-Nepali Congress (NC) alliance, his government is now in the minority. He should resign on moral grounds,” Bhandari said.
Karki’s government was formed as per Article 168(5) of the Constitution of Nepal. Although all the options prescribed in the constitution to form the government have been utilized in the Koshi Province, Bhandari insisted that there would be no hindrance to forming an alternative government. “Nowhere is it written that a new government cannot be formed after exhausting all the options,” Bhandari explained. “Since the people have given a five-year mandate to the provincial assembly, the Chief Minister can use any option to form the government.”
Bhandari said there are no constitutional hurdles to forming a new government in Koshi. “If the Chief Minister does not resign voluntarily, we will compel him to do so. An alternative government will now be formed without any constitutional obstacles,” he added.
The formation of a new coalition at the center signifies that Chief Minister Karki has lost the majority in the provincial assembly.
“We will make our claim to form the government as the largest party in the provincial assembly. However, the situation remains uncertain,” Bhandari stated. He added that UML and the Maoist Center would now collaborate to form the government in the province.
Indra Angbo, Maoist Center’s leader in the Koshi Province Assembly, however, stated that they have not yet decided firmly on seeking an alternative to the incumbent government. “The repercussions of the new coalition at the center naturally extend to the provinces. However, we have not held any discussions yet,” he remarked. “Since this government was formed under special circumstances, we must deliberate on whether to form an alternative government or dissolve the provincial assembly.”
Angbo also said that they would need to first engage in discussions with constitutional experts.
Karki was appointed Chief Minister with UML’s support. UML had initially joined Karki’s cabinet. However, the party withdrew from the government after Karki included ministers from the Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist) in his cabinet. UML, however, has not withdrawn its vote of confidence extended to Karki.
UML is the largest party in the 93-member provincial assembly with 39 members. NC has 29, the Maoist Center has 13, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has six (including the Speaker), the Unified Socialist has four, and the Janata Samajbadi Party has one member.
