Dirgha Bahadur Sodari Appointed as Chief Minister of Sudurpashim Province

In a significant political development, Dirgha Bahadur Sodari of the CPN (Unified Socialist) has been appointed as the Chief Minister of Sudurpashim Province. The appointment was made by Province Chief Najir Miya in accordance with Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.

Sodari, who serves as the parliamentary party leader of the CPN (US) in the Sudurpashim Province Assembly (PA), garnered support from various political factions, including the CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (UML), Nagarik Unmukti Party (those believed to be in the camp of party Chair Ranjita Shrestha Chaudhary), and independent PA member Dr. Tara Joshi.

His claim for the Chief Minister post was presented on Thursday, April 18, following a call by the Province Chief for political parties to stake their claim within a ten-day period.

Previously, on April 5, the Province Chief had invited political parties to submit their claims for the Chief Minister post. However, the claims made by Laxman Kishor Chaudhary and Kailash Chaudhary of the Nagarik Unmukti Party on April 14 were found unconvincing.

The decisive factor in the formation of the new government under the leadership of the Unified Socialist was the division within the Nagarik Unmukti Party in the Province Assembly.

However, there remains intra-party conflict within the Nagarik Unmukti Party, the fourth largest party in Sudurpashsim. The faction led by Ranjita Shrestha advocates for aligning with the central alliance, while those aligned with party founder Resham Lal Chaudhary lean towards siding with the Nepali Congress.

In the 53-member Province Assembly, the Nepali Congress holds the largest number of seats with 18 members, followed by 10 from the CPN (Maoist Centre), seven from the Nagarik Unmukti Party, four from the Unified Socialist, one from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and one independent member.

The by-election for the vacant post in Bajhang-A is scheduled for April 27, where the support of 27 PA members is mandated for the appointment of the Chief Minister.