Yam Lal Kandel of the CPN-UML has been appointed Karnali Chief Minister on Tuesday. Province Head Tilak Pariyar appointed Kandel, who is UML’s provincial assembly leader, to the position after he staked a claim to lead a new government.

Kandel earlier presented his claim for the chief ministerial position with the support of 23 provincial assembly members. Kandel has the backing of 13 lawmakers of the CPN (Maoist Centre), nine of the UML and one of the CPN (Unified Socialist). His swearing-in has been scheduled for Wednesday.

Support of 21 members is needed to command a majority in the 40-member assembly.

Province Head Pariyar had called on political parties to stake a claim for the government after Raj Kumar Sharma of the Maoist Centre resigned from chief minister on Wednesday. Sharma had announced his decision to step down at a meeting of the provincial assembly.

As per a power-sharing deal reached among the ruling coalition partners at the centre, UML was allocated the chief ministership of Karnali.

Sharma along with other province members of the Maoist Centre had refused to implement the centre’s decision. Chief Minister Sharma had planned to seek a vote of confidence in the assembly on Wednesday and the assembly secretariat had made all the arrangements for the same.

But later he backtracked on his floor test plan after receiving instruction from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chair of the Maoist Centre. Sharma was the Maoist Centre’s provincial assembly leader, and was appointed Karnali Province chief minister on January 11, 2023.

Triggered by the March 4 shift in the ruling coalition in Kathmandu, governments in provinces have been changing in line with the new political equation. New governments were formed in Gandaki, Lumbini and Karnali provinces while the Cabinet was reshuffled in Madhesh and Bagmati provinces. Political uncertainty is looming large in Koshi and Sudurpaschim.

In Koshi, Chief Minister Kedar Karki, who is from the Nepali Congress, is unwilling to resign or seek a confidence vote. His government has fallen into minority after the UML and the Maoist Centre withdrew support to the Karki government in the changed political situation in the country.

Karki was appointed chief minister in October, 2023 as per Article 168(5) of the constitution. Karki, who is considered to be close to Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala, led a group of eight Congress lawmakers who revolted against the party’s decision to support a Maoist lawmaker for the chief ministerial position.

On Tuesday, the UML and the Maoist Centre organised a joint press meet in Biratnagar urging Karki to resign immediately. “Otherwise, we will file a resolution proposal at the provincial assembly. The Province Head should summon a special session of the assembly,” said Rewati Raman Bhandari, UML chief whip in Koshi provincial assembly.

Meanwhile, newly appointed chief minister of Lumbini, Jokh Bahadur Mahara, will face a floor test on Friday. Durlabh Kumar Pun, secretary at the provincial assembly secretariat, said Speaker Tularam Gharti Magar has scheduled a meeting of the provincial assembly for 1pm on Friday for the purpose.

Mahara of the ruling Maoist Centre was appointed chief minister on Friday after Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary of the Nepali Congress resigned after his attempts to prove a majority in the provincial assembly failed.

The chief minister is almost certain to secure the confidence of the provincial assembly with the backing of 48 lawmakers including 29 from the CPN-UML, 10 from the Maoist Centre, four from the Nagarik Unmukti Party, three from the Janata Samajbadi Party, one from CPN (Unified Socialist) and one independent member.

Support of 44 members is mandatory to command a majority in the 87-strong assembly.