Contesting claims for Sudurpaschim CM binned

Chief of Sudurpaschim Province Nazir Miya has rejected contesting claims for the position of the province’s Chief Minister coming from rival factions of the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP).

On Sunday, Laxman Kishor Chaudhary of NUP’s Resham Chaudhary faction approached the province Chief’s Office staking claim for chief ministership, with support from the Nepali Congress and CPN (United Socialist). The day also saw Kailash Chaudhary of NUP’s Ranjita Shrestha faction staking claim for the position, with support from the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center).

But the province chief was far from impressed and called the contestants to submit their claims again within two days.

In accordance with Article 168 (2) of the Constitution, Miya has given both sides till 5 pm on April 18 to submit their claims for chief ministership, Dirgharaj Bhatta, information officer at the province Chief’s Office, said. 

NUP emerged as a formidable force in Sudurpaschim through the last general elections.  Now, there are fears that an ongoing conflict between Resham Chaudhary and Shrestha—founder and chair of NUP, respectively—may end up destabilizing the five-party ruling coalition at the Center. 

The 54-member Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly has 18 members from the Congress, 11 from the Maoist Center (including the Speaker), 10 from the UML, nine from NUP, four from CPN (US), one from Rastriya Prajatantra Party and one independent member. Out of nine NUP members, two are from the Resham Chaudhary faction. As things stand, the four-party CPN (US) will have a crucial role in forming a majority government in the province.