KATHMANDU, JANUARY 6
Madhes Province Chief's Office has called upon the parties to form the government in the province within the next six days. Province Governor Harishankar Mishra has asked the parties to stake claim to the post of the chief minister by 4:00pm on January 12.
Mishra has asked the parties to submit their claims to the post of chief minister according to Article 168 (2) of the constitution by 4:00pm on January 12. According to Clause (1) of Article 168 of the constitution of Nepal, when no single party has a clear majority to stake claim to the post of chief minister, the province chief can call for the formation of a government according to clause (2).
Since no party has a majority in Madhes Province assembly, the members of the provincial assembly have been urged to stake claim to the post of CM with the support of two or more parties.
In the 107-member Madhes Provincial Assembly, there are 23 CPN-UML members, 22 Nepali Congress members, 16 Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal members, 13 Janamat Party members, nine members each of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party-Nepal and CPN-Maoist Centre, seven CPN (Unified Socialist) members, and one member each of Nagarik Unmukti Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Federal Socialist Party and five independent members.
For a majority 54 members will be needed in the 107-member Madhes Provincial Assembly. Seven- Party alliance has 62 seats in the provincial assembly, which is enough to stake the claim and lead the government. But the question is who is going to lead Janamat or JSP-N? As per the sources, federal coalition partners Janata Samajbadi and Janamat Party are haggling with the CPN- UML over the chief minister's post in Madhes but the opposition Nepali Congress can steal the deal if it matches the equation. NC is the second largest party in Madhes after CPN-UML with 22 seats.
Janamat Party, which has 13 seats in the Provincial Assembly and JSP-N with 16 seats are bargaining within the newly formed seven-party alliance for the post of chief minister.
After the election, the change in the political alliance at the centre has had an impact on Madhes Province as well.
Chandan Singh, general secretary and member of the provincial assembly of Madhes Province, and contender of PP leader, said that the government in Madhes Province should be led by Janamat Party. He further said that it would be decided in two to three days who is going to lead the government in Madhes Province."
JSP-N Spokesperson and Provincial Assembly member, and contender of PP Manish Suman said, "Since both parties are in the same alliance, we must help each other. No official decision has been made anywhere on whether the government in Madhes Province will be led by Janamat Party or JSP-N or any other party. The leaders of the party are making their informal claims."
"If CPN-UML does not claim the post of CM, as the second largest party in the province, JSP-N should get the chance to lead the government in Madhes Province," added Suman.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 7, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
