KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 15
Newly-appointed Chief Minister of Koshi, Kedar Karki, has expanded his Cabinet by inducting one minister from Nepali Congress and one from UML today shortly after his oath ceremony.
Provincial Governor Prashuram Khapung administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shamsher Rai from Nepali Congress and Ram Bahadur Rana Magar from CPN-UML on the recommendation of CM Karki, according to the Office of the Province Chief.
The two appointed ministers are yet to be specific about their portfolios.
After NC's Kedar Karki got appointed as the chief minister of Koshi with the support of the largest party in the same province, tension has flared up within Congress between NC leader Shekhar Koirala camp and Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba faction. Although speculations are being made in relation to the effects of the Koshi government on the central alliance, the top leaders of the ruling coalition have said that they were committed to their alliance.
Talking to THT, Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said, "This is an intrinsic matters of Nepali Congress to discuss and resolve. However, we are against the decision of excluding CPN-MC."
"It is not in the rule that we can't include UML in our provincial government. But Maoist Centre should also be part of the government," he said and added, "Keeping the centre coalition intact we should form the government in Koshi."
Similarly, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Shekhar Koirala have authorised on a paper note and declared that their stance is not going to change under any predicaments.
"We are firm and clear about the current power alliance. We will not allow this alliance to weaken under any circumstances," reads a statement signed by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, NC leader Shekhar Koirala and PM Dahal.
Likewise, the fifth Chief Minister of Koshi Province since last November polls, Kedar Karki, has said that a consensus government would be formed in Koshi.
Talking to mediapersons after taking the oath of chief minister today, he claimed to form a consensus government in Koshi.
"The possibility of a midterm in Koshi has disappeared. The Provincial Assembly will not be dissolved," he said. "Now a consensus government will be formed." On the other hand, Nepali Congress General Secretary Bishwaprakash Sharma has said that restraint and maturity are necessary to prevent the Koshi incident from escalating into a wildfire.
"Let's handle the Koshi crisis with patience and maturity to prevent the Koshi incident," rather than turning into a 'wildlife'! After seeing the need to address the 'mathematical complexity' and identity movement, the two general ministers proposed - 'Let's find a solution with UML in Koshi, but by maintaining the existing alliance intact," Sharma wrote on 'X' formerly known as twitter.
Meanwhile, CPN-UML Chairperson and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli has said that his party supported the rebellion Congress in Koshi to prevent the mid-term polls in Koshi.
"Koshi province was heading into the mid-terms, we were ready to go in midterms as well. However, a mid-term would have pushed the country's economy into a more dire situation. Hence, we have supported the rebels of Congress to protect the country," he said while addressing the cadres meeting in Bijuwar, Pyuthan today.
On Friday, Karki and Indra Bahadur Angbo of CPN-MC had both staked their claims for the chief ministership of Koshi with the support of 47 lawmakers each. However, Karki was appointed the new CM by the Province head Prashuram Khapung yesterday after the verification of signatures.
Angbo had claimed the support of 29 Congress lawmakers, 13 from the Maoist Centre, four from CPN (US) and one from JSP-N. However, he failed and Karki was appointed the chief minister of Koshi.
Karki has been appointed according to article 165 (5) of the constitution of Nepal.
Appointment of a chief minister in accordance with Article 168(5) and securing a trust vote within 30 days after the appointment is vital because inability to clear the floor will lead the province to mid-term polls.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 16, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
