KATHMANDU: The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) has decided to withdraw from the Koshi Province government, planning to submit their resignations today. This decision comes as the central power dynamics have shifted, but the Maoist Center had not yet left the provincial government led by CPN-UML. Learning that Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki was preparing to dismiss them, the Maoist ministers are now stepping down.
Ganesh Upreti, the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, stated that he and his fellow Maoist ministers will resign and withdraw their support from the provincial government. Alongside Upreti, the ministers resigning include Rajendra Karki, Minister for Health; Narayan Barju Magar, Minister for Tourism, Forest and Environment; and Bandana Jhagad, Minister of State for Tourism, Forests and Environment.
Indra Bahadur Angbo, the leader of the Maoist Center Parliamentary Party, confirmed his intention to quit the government as well, aligning with his party's decision to withdraw support. This move opens the door for the Nepali Congress (NC) to join the Koshi Province government. Chief Minister Karki has already decided to allocate four of the nine provincial ministries to the NC, with a meeting between NC and UML leaders scheduled for today to discuss ministry distribution.
The current Chief Minister, Hikmat Kumar Karki, assumed his position on May 9, 2024, after the dismissal of former Chief Minister Kedar Karki through a resolution proposal. Although the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hikmat Kumar Karki in response to a writ petition filed by Kedar Karki against the new government's formation, the full text of the decision has yet to be released.
