Key Takeaways:

• Thapa to be appointed CM at 4:05 pm, oath at 4:20 pm
• Province Chief Devkota proceeding with claim backed by UML, CPN and RPP
• RPP central leadership denies support, warns of disciplinary action
• Dispute raises uncertainty over coalition stability in Bagmati Province

HETAUDA, AUGUST 20 CPN-UML leader Kiran Thapa is scheduled to take oath as the new chief minister of Bagmati Province at 4:20 pm today. According to the Office of the Province Chief, Province Chief Dipak Prasad Devkota will appoint Thapa as chief minister at 4:05 pm, followed by the swearing-in ceremony 15 minutes later. Devkota said he would proceed with the government formation process based on a claim submitted with the support of three parties - the CPN-UML, Nepal Communits Party (NCP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). The RPP central leadership, however, has already instructed against recognising the party's support for the proposed government, saying the provincial party had proceeded contrary to the central party's decision. The RPP centre has also warned of action against parliamentary party leader Uddhav Thapa and other leaders involved in the process.