JANAKPUR: A new twist has emerged in the race to form the government in Madhesh Province after Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Krishna Prasad Yadav staked his claim for the chief minister’s post on Wednesday, backed by 58 provincial lawmakers.
Yadav submitted his claim to Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari with the signatures of 22 Congress, 28 CPN-UML, and 13 Janamat Party lawmakers. He was accompanied by UML’s parliamentary leader Saroj Kumar Yadav and other senior leaders while submitting the claim at the Office of the Province Chief.
Earlier, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) leader Jitendra Sonal had also submitted his claim for the chief ministerial position with the support of six parties, including the Janamat Party, presenting signatures of 57 lawmakers.
The Janamat Party, which appears to have switched sides, now finds itself at the center of competing alliances. While Janamat parliamentary leader Mahesh Prasad Yadav was present during Sonal’s claim, another faction of the party has reportedly backed Congress’ Yadav-led alliance.
Krishna Prasad Yadav said that he filed his claim in line with an understanding reached with Janamat Party leaders, asserting that the alliance now commands a majority with 58 lawmakers.
However, Janamat leader Mahesh Prasad Yadav accused Congress and UML of acting unilaterally. “We had already informed them about our participation in another coalition, so submitting a claim with our signatures is inappropriate,” he said.
Mahesh Yadav maintained that the Janamat Party’s position is to form a government that includes the Madhesh-based parties in line with the public mandate.
With both alliances claiming majority support, the political equation in Madhesh Province has become increasingly complex. The Province Chief is expected to verify the claims before announcing the new chief minister.
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