KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Sudurpaschim Province parliamentary party (PP) leader Prakash Bahadur Sah has replaced party’s province chief whip Tara Lama with Lal Bahadur Khadka and picked Durga Kumari Kami as whip.
UML Sudurpaschim PP leader Sah also informed the provincial Speaker in writing regarding the shuffle Friday. Sah stated that Lama was replaced as chief whip as she had to take charge of other responsibilities.
UML has 25 members in Sudurpaschim Province Assembly (PA), of which 19 align themselves with senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal. Meanwhile, provincial Speaker is in the party Chairman and Prime Minister KP Oli camp.
The divide in the UML surfaced after Oli-led Standing Committee decided to withdraw support to Sudurpaschim government led by Chief Minister Trilochan Bhatta of the Maoist Center. However, differing with party Chair Oli and the decision of the Standing Committee, UML PP decided to continue its support to the government.
Sudurpaschim Province Committee Chairman and Secretary also sought clarification from three Ministers in the provincial government regarding their decision to disobey the Standing Committee directive. But, the ministers in question refused to comply with clarification.
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