Discussions to form new government in Lumbini begin

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT Butwal, Nov. 29: Discussions to form new government have started in Lumbini Province after the results of the election to the Provincial Assemblies held under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) category were announced. Now, people there are talking about which party would form the new government and under whose leadership. 

It is predicted that a new government would be formed under the leadership of the CPN-UML, the largest party in the Provincial Assembly (PA) under FPTP category of elections, or the second largest party, the Nepali Congress (NC). 

The CPN (Maoist Centre) would also play an important role in forming the new government as it is the third largest party. 

It is said that efforts will be made to form political equation after the results of the elections held under Proportional Representation (PR) category are announced. 

However, it is seen that the CPN-UML would nominate Lila Giri for the chief minister in line with its proposal before the election.

The NC is looking forward to nominate Dilli Bahadur Chaudhari who has won from Dang 3 (A) and Abdul Rajjak, winner from Rupandehi 1 (B), for future chief minister. 

NC Lumbini Province president Amar Singh Pun was thought to be a strong candidate within the party for the post, but after he lost the election, vice-president Raju Khanal has emerged as a contender. Khanal has won the election from Dang 2 (A).

Since the final election results of the PA under the PR category in Lumbini Province has not come out, it is hard to predict which party will be able to win majority seats in the 87-member assembly.  

A total of 44 members are needed to form a new government. No single party has been able to secure majority on the basis of election result so far. It looks like the province would not get stable government for five years like the centre, said political analyst Yubraj Kandel.

Meanwhile, CPN (Maoist Centre) had participated in the election proposing Jokh Bahadur Mahara as the future chief minister. Since Mahara has won from Rolpa 1 (A), it is likely that the party would make an effort to form a government under Mahara’s leadership, informed a person close to the party. 

But, CPN (MC) has won only five seats in the PA under FPTP category. The Maoist leadership can be an alternative if both NC and CPN-UML refrain from participating in government formation. 

Meanwhile, it is predicted that the future of the government would be decided on the basis of participation of bigger parties like CPN-UML, NC and the CPN (MC) and smaller parties. 

Here, four small parties –  Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party –  has won two seats each, Janamat Party led by CK Raut one seat. 

What’s more, three independent candidates have become victorious in the election. They have won 12 seats in total and could play an important role in the formation of new government. 

Political Analyst Kandel stressed that the bigger parties like CPN-UML and NC would need the support of small parties to form a new government. 

Meanwhile, it is said that the political polarisation in the centre would also have an impact in the province. There is a high probability of forming a government from the ruling alliance if five-party ruling alliance forms a new government in the centre, said Kandel.