KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 3 The CPN-UML, the largest political party in the Madhes provincial assembly, has lost all of its powerful positions in less than a month. First, the federal government dismissed Madhes Province governor Sumitra Bhandari. Second, the assembly's speaker, Ram Chandra Mandal, was impeached, and today, chief minister Saroj Yadav resigned just before the afternoon vote of confidence. The UML suffered its first setback in Madhes Province when governor Bhandari was fired after she administered the oath of office to Yadav as Madhes CM in one of Bardibas' hotels in the early hours of November 10. President Ram Chandra Paudel removed Bhandari from her position based on the government's recommendation. Surendra Labh Karna was appointed as the new governor of Madhes. On November 13, 64 Madhes legislators from seven parties filed a motion in the Provincial Assembly against Mandal. The lawmakers' motion included a demand that speaker Mandal be removed from his position because he had not acted appropriately. On November 19, the Provincial Assembly meeting chaired by Deputy Speaker Babita Kumari Raut Ishar announced speaker Mandal's removal from his position, and the UML suffered another setback in Madhes. Following the Supreme Court's decision on Monday, Yadav was instructed to take the floor test early this morning. The Supreme Court had issued an order requiring the provincial assembly to hold a vote of confidence within 24 hours. However, he did not attend the assembly. Thus, the confidence motion was postponed until the afternoon. In the meantime, he resigned without facing a vote of confidence. To form a government in Madhes' 107-member provincial assembly, a majority of 54 votes is required. However, the largest party, UML, only has 25 MPs, including the speaker. One is suspended. Furthermore, the support of the Nepal Sanghiya Samajwadi Party and the RPP, each with one seat, would not have been sufficient to sustain the UML government. While the UML appears to be weak in parliamentary maths, the seven-party alliance is in a strong position with 73 lawmakers. The seven-party alliance includes 22 members of Nepali Congress, 19 JSP-Nepal, 13 Janamat, 16 Nepali Communist Party (nine CPN-MC and nine CPN (US)), 8 LSP-N, and one Nagarik Unmukti Party. Chandan Singh, a provincial legislator from the Janamat Party, told THT, 'The seven-party alliance is in consultation and waiting for the process to begin to form the government.' However, leaders from the alliance look dissatisfied. A leader told THT, 'The seven-party alliance did not fulfil the democratic culture during the vote of confidence motion of CM Yadav.' Chief minister Yadav announced his resignation from the podium while addressing the provincial assembly, which was scheduled for this afternoon. While he was speaking, members of seven opposition parties walked out of the meeting. The door to a new power equation was opened today after chief minister Yadav announced his resignation from office after failing to secure a majority in the provincial assembly meeting called for a vote of confidence, as mandated by the Supreme Court. Following the apex court order and Yadav's resignation, the path has been cleared for the formation of a new government in Madhes Province under Article 168(2) of the Constitution. Karna, the provincial governor, has called for the formation of a new government in Madhes Province. According to Article 168(2) of the Constitution, provincial assembly members who can secure a majority from two or more parties are required to submit their claims by 5:00pm on Friday, December 5.