An attempt by coalition partners Janamat Party, Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSPN), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) to withdraw support from the Nepali Congress-led Madhesh province government and form a new one has been stalled following last-minute efforts by senior leaders.

High-level talks between leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC), JSPN and NCP on Tuesday helped avert the immediate collapse of the provincial government led by Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav.

On Tuesday, political developments in Janakpur had reached a critical stage, with coalition partners preparing to withdraw support from the government. According to a JSPN lawmaker, JSPN, LSP and NCP had even prepared a formal letter to submit to the office of the province head. The Janamat Party had already submitted its withdrawal letter on Monday evening.

On Wednesday, the province head’s office issued a statement confirming receipt of the Janamat Party’s letter. “Information is hereby provided that a letter has been received stating that the Janamat Party has withdrawn its support, effective from May 5, for the Madhesh province government formed under Article 168 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal,” the statement read.

The withdrawal, however, has exposed internal divisions within the Janamat Party. Mahesh Prasad Yadav, then parliamentary party leader of Janamat Party and current finance minister of Madhesh province, wrote to the province head on Tuesday claiming that the party’s support for the government remained intact. Due to the contradicting claims, the province head’s office based its acknowledgment on the letter signed by nine lawmakers supporting withdrawal of support.

A JSPN lawmaker said the coalition partners had already prepared separate letters to pull out of the government. “The process was delayed while waiting for the CPN-UML parliamentary party leader to arrive from Kathmandu. In that interval, NC chief Gagan Kumar Thapa, JSPN chair Upendra Yadav and NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal held discussions,” the lawmaker said.

According to him, two key factors prevented the immediate fall of the government. First, there was concern among coalition partners that toppling a Congress-led government within six months of its formation would send a negative message on federalism. Second, disagreement emerged after UML parliamentary party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav arrived in Janakpur and insisted that the UML should lead the government, even for a month within the assembly’s remaining term. And this broke the emerging consensus.

Following the intervention of senior party leaders, the situation was temporarily defused.

“JSPN has asked for time to clarify its internal position,” said Chandan Singh, general secretary of the Janamat Party. “We will also wait for some time.”

Following Janamat Party’s withdrawal of support, the chief minister is required to seek a vote of confidence within 30 days. Despite the party’s exit, Finance Minister Mahesh Prasad Yadav and Minister for Sports and Social Welfare Basanta Kushwaha remain in their positions.

Lalbabu Raut, former chief minister and general secretary of JSPN, clarified that his party had not taken any formal decision regarding a change in government. “There has been no discussion or decision within the party or parliamentary party on the leadership of the Madhesh government,” Raut said. “JSPN’s support for the Congress-led government continues.”

The Janamat Party, however, has accused the government of failing to utilise the budget and of slow progress in strengthening federalism. “The Congress-led government could not spend the budget or shore up federalism,” Singh said. “People in Madhesh did not feel the presence of Krishna Yadav’s government. We will now aim to form a government involving Madhesh-based parties.”

The latest political uncertainty comes after a series of changes in provincial leadership triggered by earlier instability. Former chief minister Satish Kumar Singh resigned during the Gen Z movement and was later “forcibly” removed by his own party. LSP lawmaker Jitendra Sonal then became chief minister but lost the position after two then CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmakers, Rahbar Ansari and Mala Karna, rebelled during a vote of confidence.

Subsequently, then province head Sumitra Subedi Bhandari appointed UML parliamentary party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav (Mahottari) as chief minister from a hotel in Mahottari, a decision later challenged in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled the appointment unconstitutional and ordered a vote of confidence. Unable to secure a majority, Yadav resigned. This led to the formation of the current government under NC parliamentary party leader Krishna Prasad Yadav, supported by seven parties, including Janamat Party, JSPN, LSP, CPN (Unified Socialist), CPN (Maoist Centre), and Nagarik Unmukti Party.

The Madhesh Province Assembly currently has 101 active members, including 22 from NC, 24 from UML, 12 from Janamat Party, 15 from NCP, 26 from JSPN, and one each from Nagarik Unmukti Party and Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party.

Earlier, the assembly had 107 members, but Abhiram Sharma (LSP), Saroj Singh Kushwaha (JSPN) and Kanchan Bichchha (Rastriya Prajatantra Party) are currently suspended, while Satish Kumar Singh, Bharat Prasad Sah and Rahbar Ansari resigned to contest the House of Representatives elections.