KATHMANDU: The political developments that occurred in Karnali Province Friday have a clear message to the government and UML establishment faction that no government is safe unless internal conflicts are resolved.
In Karnali, the CPN-UML’s political strategy was straight, given it had 20 members in Province Assembly (PA) — the majority — out of total 39-member PA. The UML planned to remove the CPN-Maoist Center government led by Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi and enthrone party Chairman KP Oli faction leader Yam Lal Kandel in the province.
However, CM Shahi won the vote of confidence with the help of six members of the Nepali Congress and four dissident UML members in the PA. The dissident UML lawmakers belonged to the disgruntled Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal faction of the party.
The turn of events befuddled the Prime Minister KP Oli faction of the UML, challenging the status quo.
Currently, there are UML-led governments in four out of seven provinces in the country. Leaders close to PM Oli are Chief Ministers in Lumbini, Gandaki, Bagmati and Province 1. Even in the center, KP Oli-led government stands only due to Maoist Center support.
The Maoists are deliberating their search for alternative to PM Oli and are likely to withdraw support from federal government at a favorable time.
With Karnali’s unexpected development, UML Nepal-Khanal faction has also warned the Oli faction of repeating its cooperation with Maoists and other forces in other provinces as well as in the center, provided its concerns are not addressed on time.
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