The ruling coalition of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) is in deliberations to seal a package deal on provincial government positions.

As many parties are keen to lead the Madhesh province, government formation has seemingly become challenging for the coalition. Coalition leaders, however, claim they will seal a deal in a day or two.

The CK Raut-led Janamat Party, a coalition partner, has made the chief ministerial position in Madhesh as its red line.

Party leader BP Shah said they have already staked their claim for Madhesh chief minister, and will decide about other ministries only after the main demand is met.

“Our first priority in Madhesh is to join hands with the federal ruling alliance. If that is not possible, we will also consider partnering with the Nepali Congress in the province,” he said.

The Janamat Party, which has 13 seats in the Madhesh provincial assembly, has already joined the federal Cabinet. It sent vice-chair Abdul Khan as a minister in the eight-member Cabinet.

Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal became the prime minister with the support of UML chair KP Sharma Oli, by outfoxing Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba following a surprising turn of events.

Dahal got the support of 169 representatives in the House—78 from the UML, 32 from the Maoist Centre, 20 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, 14 from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, 12 from the Janata Samajbadi Party, six from the Janamat Party, and four from the Nagarik Unmukti Party. Independent lawmakers Prabhu Sah, Kiran Kumar Sah and Amresh Kumar Singh also backed him in office.

The Janata Samajbadi Party, with 13 seats in the Madhesh provincial assembly, is yet to join the Dahal-led government. Sources say it is also trying to bargain for the chief ministerial position in the new Madhesh government as the third largest force in the province.

Party spokesperson Manish Suman said the meeting of provincial lawmakers on Thursday will find a way out on provincial government formation. “We have yet to decide on it.”

UML provincial leaders say they are flexible to adequately accommodating other parties like the Janamat and the Janata Samajbadi. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leaders are also quietly attempting to form a government in Madhesh.

The UML is the largest party in the Madhesh provincial government with 23 seats. The Nepali Congress is right behind, with 22 seats. As many as six independent candidates have made it to the Madhesh provincial assembly.

“We have slated the parliamentary party leader election in Madhesh province for Thursday. We will give government-formation in the province a last try. We are in regular touch with the Janamat Party and the Janata the Samajbadi Party,” said a provincial committee leader of the Nepali Congress.

Party insiders said they will most likely project the province chapter president Krishna Yadav as candidate for next chief minister if the Congress is to lead the government.

The Madhesh provincial assembly is 107-strong; 54 members will make up a majority.

CPN-UML Madhesh province committee vice-chair Rewati Pant said their party at the centre will reach a package deal on the leadership of provincial governments.

“Logically, the UML as the largest party should get the leadership of the province, but the centre will strike a package deal. We also need to accommodate the Janata Samajbadi Party and Janamat Party,” he said. “We might even have to cede the chief ministership to some other party and settle for provincial assembly Speaker.”