In a setback to the Prachanda-led government, Nepal’s deputy prime minister resigns

Kathmandu:

Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and senior Madhesi leader Upendra Yadav on Monday tendered his resignation and his party withdrew from the government, in a setback for the coalition government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda .

Upendra Yadav, also the Minister of Health and Population, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister “Prachanda” on Monday morning, according to sources close to the Madhesi leader. Along with Upendra Yadav, Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Dipak Karki, from the same party, also tendered his resignation.

The resignation of Upendra Yadav, president of the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal (JSP-Nepal), comes a week after his party split into two groups with senior leader Ashok Rai forming a new party called the Janata Samajwadi Party. The new party was recognized by the Electoral Commission.

“This morning, I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Dahal. Given the current political situation, I consider it untenable to continue my cooperation with the government,” said Upendra Yadav.

JSP-Nepal had a total of 12 legislators in the House of Representatives (HoR). Now the party’s strength has been reduced to 5 in the HoR as Rai and six other legislators and 30 core committee members have joined the new party.

The coalition government led by Prime Minister Prachanda still holds a majority with 77 seats from the CPN-UML, 32 from the Maoist Center, 21 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, seven from the newly formed Janata Samajbadi Party and 10 seats from the CPN Unified Party. Socialist (CPN-USA). The coalition requires at least 138 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives to prove a majority.

“The party’s departure from the government will not have an immediate impact on the coalition government led by Prachanda,” said Sunil Manandhar, former environment minister and member of the Chinese Communist Party-Maoist Center central committee. However, it could have some repercussions on the government’s long-term stability, he added.

There are reports that the Nepali Opposition Congress is trying to mobilize the JSP-Nepal and the CPN-USA led by former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal to overthrow the government led by Prachanda. The Nepali Congress is currently obstructing the proceedings of the House of Representatives demanding the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhene, who is also the chairman of the Rastriya Swotantra Party, over the issue of misappropriation of funds cooperatives.

If the NCP-USA also withdraws support to the government, then the Prachanda-led government may have to prove its majority in the House of Representatives, political observers point out.

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