KATHMANDU, Aug 4: Political parties in Bagmati Province have stepped up negotiations to form a new provincial government amid an ongoing deadlock over securing a parliamentary majority.
Following an agreement between the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) to share power, discussions have also been initiated with other parties to garner the support required for government formation.
CPN-UML Chief Whip Eklal Shrestha said talks are underway with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Hamro Nepali Party and the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP).
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“Negotiations with political parties are moving ahead intensively. We are working to end the deadlock over government formation as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress Bagmati Province Chief Whip Pukar Maharjan said Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya has also been holding discussions with all political parties in an effort to break the impasse.
According to Maharjan, Baniya has urged parties either to help form a new government with a clear majority or support the current Nepali Congress-led administration to end the ongoing political uncertainty.
The 104-member Bagmati Provincial Assembly comprises six parties. The Nepali Congress is the largest party with 36 seats, followed by the NCP with 26 and the CPN-UML with 25.
The RPP holds 12 seats, the NWPP has three, and the Hamro Nepali Party has two. A minimum of 53 lawmakers is required to form a government.
Although the CPN-UML has withdrawn its support from the Nepali Congress-led government and exited the administration, neither side has yet secured the majority needed to form a new government.
Both the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, Nepal’s two major traditional political parties, are continuing efforts to build new governing coalitions by seeking support from smaller parties.
