JANAKPURDHAM: Madhesh Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari on Monday morning appointed CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader Saroj Yadav as the Chief Minister.
Subedi, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in Kathmandu, administered the oath of office to Yadav at a hotel in Sindhuli under Article 168 (3) of the Constitution.
Yadav’s appointment comes two days after Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal resigned on Saturday following indications that he would fail to secure a vote of confidence in the Provincial Assembly.
The appointment letter issued by the Province Chief states, “In accordance with Article 168 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal, you are hereby appointed as the Chief Minister of Madhesh Province. Congratulations and best wishes for a successful tenure.”
A central member of the UML, Yadav was elected from Mahottari Constituency-4 (1) in the 2022 provincial elections.
As per constitutional provision, the newly appointed Chief Minister must secure a vote of confidence within 30 days. If he fails to do so, the process will revert to Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal has accused Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari of betraying the people of Madhesh.
In a Facebook post, Sonal expressed anger over what he called a secret appointment of UML leader Yadav as Chief Minister, claiming it was an insult to Madhesh’s identity.
He alleged that the Province Chief, who had left for Kathmandu citing health treatment, administered the oath to Yadav at a hotel located on the Sindhuli–Mahottari border.
“Madhesh’s people have been betrayed,” Sonal wrote. “In the name of medical treatment, Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari left Madhesh and, from a hotel at the Sindhuli–Mahottari border, played a game to destroy the dignity of Madhesh.”
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