Calls for New Government in Koshi Province as Political Standoff Intensifies

In a significant political development in Koshi Province, leaders from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) met with Province Head Parshuram Khapung on Wednesday to urge the initiation of a new government formation process. The political leaders handed over a formal letter demanding the province head to facilitate the establishment of a new administration, claiming that the current Chief Minister, Kedar Karki, has lost legitimacy for not undergoing a constitutionally mandated floor test.

The confrontation escalated after the two major parties withdrew their support from the Karki government on April 8, which was followed by a provincial assembly resolution on April 19. The resolution required Chief Minister Karki to either secure a vote of confidence within 30 days of losing the majority or to resign. The stipulated deadline expired on Tuesday without any action from Karki, who remains adamant in his refusal to either resign or test his majority in the assembly.

Chief Minister Karki has argued that the government was formed under a different constitutional clause which, according to him, does not necessitate a floor test as long as he believes he maintains a majority.

Province Head Khapung, upon receiving the request from CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), stated that he would proceed according to the constitutional, legal, and act-based requirements.

The political tension in Koshi Province continues as it awaits further developments and responses from the involved parties.