KATHMANDU: The Nagarik Unmukti Party, which has been backing the Lumbini provincial government, has decided to withdraw its support.
However, the official withdrawal letter will be submitted only after the party formally exits the federal government, according to party leaders.
Following the party’s central committee decision to step away from the federal coalition, the Lumbini Province parliamentary party held a meeting and resolved to end its support for the provincial government as well.
Nagarik Unmukti has four members in the Lumbini Provincial Assembly, who had been supporting Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya of the CPN-UML since last Shrawan.
Party’s parliamentary leader in Lumbini, Dharmabahadur Chaudhary, confirmed the decision. “We’ve already decided to withdraw support because the Lumbini government has failed to meet public expectations,” he said. “We’re currently awaiting instructions from the central leadership to submit the formal letter.”
Chief Minister Acharya was appointed on Shrawan 7, and secured a vote of confidence on Bhadra 4, receiving the backing of 70 out of 87 provincial assembly members.
Support came from UML (29), Nepali Congress (27), Nagarik Unmukti (4), Loktantrik Samajwadi Party – LSP (3), Janamat Party (3), Janata Samajwadi Party – JSP (2), JSP-Nepal (1), and one independent member.
Eleven members from the Maoist Centre voted against, while four from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), one from CPN-Unified Socialist, and one from Janamorcha were absent.
Recently, one JSP-Nepal member and three LSP members have also withdrawn support.
LSP had been sidelined during budget discussions on the recommendation of the Chief Minister after several opposition parties, including the Maoist Centre, boycotted the debate. LSP is reportedly preparing to rejoin the government.
At present, Chief Minister Acharya has the backing of 65 out of 86 active members of the Provincial Assembly.
If Nagarik Unmukti formally withdraws, this number will drop to 61. The assembly currently has 86 members following the dismissal of Janamat Party’s Geeta Gurung.
