Kathmandu [Nepal], July 25 – The CPN-UML and the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Saturday signed an agreement to jointly form and run provincial governments, marking a new left alliance aimed at reshaping Nepal’s provincial political landscape.
The agreement was signed by CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and NCP chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” following a series of talks between the two parties on forging a new political partnership.
According to the agreement, the two parties will jointly form governments in the provinces where they command sufficient numbers and share power under an agreed leadership arrangement.
Under the deal, CPN-UML will lead the governments in Koshi, Bagmati and Lumbini provinces while the Nepal Communist Party will head the governments in Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces.
In Madhesh and Gandaki provinces, the two parties agreed to consult other political parties represented in the provincial assemblies before deciding the leadership and structure of the governments.
The agreement says the alliance aims to end political instability, disagreements over budget formulation, budget deadlocks and what it describes as unhealthy political competition in provincial assemblies. It states that the partnership is intended to promote political stability, good governance, prosperity and accelerate provincial development.
The agreement follows weeks of discussions between the two communist parties on building a broader left alliance and a new power-sharing arrangement amid ongoing changes in provincial governments.
