Kathmandu – The power equation in Madhesh Province has changed. Following the shift in the alliance, the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) and Janamat Party have exited the government, while the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, and CPN have formed a coalition.
Despite the change in political power arrangement, Krishna Prasad Yadav remains the Chief Minister. Chief Minister Yadav has removed three ministers from the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSP-N) and appointed Mohammad Samir from the CPN-UML as a minister without portfolio.
Two ministers from the Janamat Party had already resigned.
From the Janamat Party, Finance Minister Mahesh Prasad Yadav and Minister for Sports and Social Welfare Basant Kushwaha had resigned earlier. However, three ministers were dismissed for refusing to resign. The dismissed ministers from JSP include Minister of Physical Infrastructure Rajkumar Gupta, Minister of Education and Culture Rani Sharma, and Labour and Transport Minister Manish Suman.
Following a high-level federal agreement, a provincial government has been formed under the leadership of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN. Accordingly, a new government in Madhesh Province has been established under these three parties, excluding Madhesh-based parties.
Chief Minister Yadav is set to seek a vote of confidence on Friday. A provincial assembly meeting has been called at 1 PM for this purpose.
Earlier, after the Janamat Party withdrew its support from the government on 21st Baisakh, a provincial assembly meeting had been scheduled for 1st Jestha to hold a vote of confidence. However, due to dissatisfaction within his own party, Nepali Congress, and JSP’s refusal to participate in the vote, he had postponed the process.
The three-party coalition now has a clear majority in Madhesh Province. In the 107-member provincial assembly, 54 seats are required for the government to secure confidence. After the merger of Lumbini Samajbadi Party and JSP-Nepal, they hold 26 seats. Two members of parliament are currently under suspension.
The CPN-UML has 24 seats, Nepali Congress 22, and CPN 15 seats. This brings the total of the new coalition to 61 seats. The Janamat Party has 12 seats, while the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Federal Socialist Party have one seat each.
Cabinet Reshuffle
With the formation of the new ruling coalition, Chief Minister Yadav has reshuffled the cabinet.
According to the new distribution of portfolios, he has retained the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Labour and Transport, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, and Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare.
Meanwhile, Jangilal Rai has been assigned the Ministry of Health and Population, Jawaharlal Kushwaha the Ministry of Energy, Irrigation and Drinking Water, Kanish Patel the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Shankar Prasad Chaudhary the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Shyam Prasad Patel the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Fakira Mahto the Ministry of Home, Communications and Law, and Mohammad Samir has been appointed as Minister without portfolio.
At a ceremony held at the Office of the Provincial Head, the newly appointed minister Mohammad Samir took his oath before the Provincial Head.
