Key Takeaways:

• RPP parliamentary party meeting chaired by Uddhav Thapa endorsed central directives
• RPP's 12 seats in the 104-member assembly had been seen as decisive
• NWPP with 3 seats now emerges as more crucial in coalition arithmetic
• Majority requires 53 lawmakers; current distribution leaves rival blocs short

HETAUDA, AUGUST 7 The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has decided not to join the Bagmati provincial government or any power-sharing arrangement without a directive from its central leadership, complicating efforts by rival parties to form a new government. A meeting of the RPP Bagmati parliamentary party, chaired by its leader Uddhav Thapa on Thursday night, formally decided against participating in the government formation process without instructions from the party centre. Thapa said the meeting endorsed the decisions and directives issued by the RPP Central Working Committee and agreed to follow them in matters concerning the Bagmati government. The RPP, which has 12 seats in the 104-member Bagmati Provincial Assembly, had been viewed as a potentially decisive force in the formation of a new government. Its decision to stay out of the power equation means parties seeking to form the next government will now have to reassess their numbers and alliances. The Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), with three seats, has emerged as a potentially more important player following the RPP's decision. A party needs the support of 53 lawmakers to command a majority in the 104-member provincial assembly. The current seat distribution is 36 for the Nepali Congress, 26 for the Nepali Communist Party, 25 for the CPN-UML, 12 for the RPP, three for the NWPP and two for the Hamro Nepali Party. The RPP's decision comes amid ongoing efforts to form a new provincial government and competing attempts to build a majority through alliances.