NC withdraws its support to government

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 6: Nepali Congress has officially withdrawn its support given to the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. 

A meeting of the Work Performance Committee held at the residence of party President Sher Bahadur Deuba in Budhanilkantha on Tuesday afternoon decided to withdraw the support extended to the government.

After the meeting, Nepali Congress Vice President Dhanraj Gurung said that the support previously granted to the government has now been withdrawn. 

Prime Minister Prachanda severed ties with the Congress-led coalition on Monday and forged a new alliance with the CPN-UML and other parties prompting the NC to take the decision.

After the new alliance comprising the CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party and Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal was forged, Nepali Congress called its Work Performance Committee meeting to discuss the latest political developments and decided to withdraw its support given to the government.

"We backed Prime Minister Prachanda and his party during the election and the formation of the government. We even provided him with a vote of confidence. However, given the current political landscape, the Nepali Congress has officially withdrawn its support for the government. This decision was reached during today's meeting," stated Gurung.

Furthermore, the Congress has decided to register the party with the Election Commission for the upcoming by-elections in Ilam and Bajhang. He underscored that the Nepali Congress intends to play a role of constructive opposition in the parliament.

NC withdraws its support to Karnali provincial government

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has formally announced its departure from the Karnali provincial government. 

According to our Surkhet correspondent, ministers representing the party tendered their resignations, effectively ending their association with the ruling coalition at a press conference held in Birendranagar on Tuesday, Chief Minister Rajkumar Sharma received the official notifications.

In addition to resigning from their ministerial posts, the Nepali Congress has also decided to withdraw its support to the government. Among the notable figures departing from the Congress are Bedraj Singh, who served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Planning, Khadga Bahadur Pokharel, who held Ministry of Social Development, and Krishna Kumar BC, who served as Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment. BC had assumed office last May.

Karnali provincial assembly comprises 40 members, requiring a minimum of 21 seats to secure a majority. The Maoist Centre holds 13 seats, while the UML has 10 seats, totalling 23 seats between them. Given this scenario, the Nepali Congress, with its 14 seats, lacks the numerical strength to independently form a government or align with parties other than the UML and Maoists. The Janata Samajwadi Party and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party hold one seat each, further complicating the arithmetic.

The recent acquittal of independent MP Debendra Bahadur Shahi gives another twist to the equation, potentially tipping the balance with an additional seat, though Shahi's allegiance remains uncertain. Even in coalition with the RPP and Samajwadi Party, the Nepali Congress would still fall short of a majority.

It appears increasingly likely that a coalition government led by the UML-Maoist alliance will take shape in Karnali Province.