The Madhesh Province government led by Chief Minister Jitendra Prasad Sonal collapsed on Saturday, just 25 days after its formation, after he failed to secure a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly.

Sonal, who had formed the government on October 15 with the support of 56 lawmakers under Article 168(2) of the Constitution, resigned hours before the scheduled trust vote when it became clear that all his coalition partners would not back him.

Two CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmakers—Rahbar Ansari and Mala Karn—publicly announced that they would neither vote for nor against the motion, effectively abstaining from the confidence vote.

Similarly, former chief minister Satish Kumar Singh and lawmaker Tribhuwan Sah, who had earlier supported Sonal, chose to remain absent from the assembly session. The suspension of Janata Samajbadi Party lawmaker Saroj Singh Kushwaha further weakened Sonal’s position.

The chief minister needed 53 votes to prove the majority.

As per Article 168(3) of the Constitution, the provincial head will now invite the leader of the largest party in the provincial assembly to form the new government. As per the provision, the provincial parliamentary party leader of the CPN-UML is set to be appointed.

The constitutional provision stipulates that if a chief minister appointed under Article 168(2) fails to obtain a vote of confidence, the leader of the party with the most members shall be invited to lead the government. Should the next chief minister also fail, Article 168(5) allows any assembly member who can demonstrate majority support to be appointed.

Sonal’s resignation underscores the persistent political instability in Madhesh Province, where shifting alliances and fractured mandates have led to repeated changes in government since the introduction of the federal system.