Sudurpashim Province Head Najir Miya on Tuesday rejected claims by Nagarik Unmukti Party’s lawmakers to lead a government and issued a new call.

The Office of the Province Head said Province Head Miya urged political parties to stake a claim for the chief minister position within two days, as per Article 168(2) of the Constitution.

Issuing a statement, the Office of the Province Head said a decision for the post of the chief minister could not be made due to the separate claims put forth by Nagarik Unmukti Party’s province assembly members, as per a notice issued on April 5.

The Province Chief has given the deadline till 5pm on April 18 to come up with a clear basis to obtain a majority with the backing of two or more political parties.

Two lawmakers from the Nagarik Unmukti Party on Sunday staked a claim to the post of Sudurpaschim chief minister. Provincial assembly members Kailash Kumar Chaudhary and Laxman Kishor Chaudhary presented their claims before Provincial Head Miya.

Kailash staked a claim to lead a new provincial government with the support of the CPN-UML, the CPN (Maoist Centre) and independent lawmakers. Laxman laid his claim with the support of the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Unified Socialist).

The Unified Socialist on Tuesday withdrew its support to Laxman after an agreement in the five-party alliance to allocate the chief ministerial position to the party.

Dirgha Sodari, the provincial assembly member of the Unified Socialist, is now preparing to stake a claim for the chief minister with the support of the UML, the Maoist Centre and independent lawmakers.

The Nepali Congress is riled by the decision to call for government formation again. Congress provincial assembly leader Kamal Bahadur Shah said they will be seeking a legal remedy.