The fall of the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party’s Jitendra Sonal-led Madhesh’s coalition government in 25 days has not just exposed the fragile political dynamics but also the CPN (Maoist Centre)’s centralised policy.

On October 15, Sonal was appointed the third chief minister of Madhesh in less than three years since the current provincial assembly was elected in November 2023. The nine lawmakers of the Maoist Centre supported the formation of his government, which also had the backing of the Janata Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, and CPN (Unified Socialist). However, 25 days later, when he appeared for the floor test, two Maoist Centre lawmakers broke ranks.

The support of at least 54 members is a must for a majority in the 107-strong provincial assembly. Initially, apart from eight members from his party, Sonal had support from 18 assembly members of the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, 13 from the Janamat Party, nine from the Maoist Centre, and seven from the Unified Socialist. This number comfortably crossed the majority mark. But things changed in less than a month.

No support of two Maoist Centre’s members meant Sonal would have failed the trust motion. As a result he resigned before facing the assembly. Ignoring the party whip, Rahabar Ansari and Mala Karna rebelled against the government.

Addressing the provincial assembly they claimed they had revolted against the anti-federal decision.

“We want federalism to be strengthened. But there is no respect for federalism within our party,” said Karna. “Since our party functions under a centralised system of governance, I announce that I will defy the party’s decision and not vote for any government.”

She further claimed that the Sonal’s government was installed by Kathmandu ignoring their voice. Ansari also said he will not succumb to every decision imposed on him. Maoist Centre leaders in Madhesh say the lawmaker duo’s move was a revolt against the blatant interference of the central leadership in the provincial assembly party. They claim that the differences within the party would not have surfaced if the provincial assembly party was allowed to function democratically.

They said it all started after party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, under the pressure from party leader Matrika Yadav, favoured Bharat Prasad Sah for the assembly party leader despite reservations from some party members.

In January 2023, Sah became the provincial assembly party leader. However, following serious allegations of misconduct he was forced to resign in June. However, without consulting the provincial assembly members, Dahal on October 3 declared Sah as provincial assembly party leader and wrote to the province’s Speaker to recognise Sah’s new position.

As directed by the top party leadership, Sah agreed to extend support to Sonal amid reservations from assembly members. “The decision to support Sonal was imposed upon us against our will. We need what we thought was right,” said Karna.

Those, who have followed the development, say what has been exposed in Madhesh shows how authoritarian Nepal’s political parties are. They say though the state was restructured with the 2015 constitution, the political parties themselves never transformed. “What happened in Madhesh is a result of a lack of internal democracy within the Maoist Centre,” said Khim Lal Devkota, former National Assembly member and an expert on federalism.

Leaders in Kathmandu hold authorities over decisions right from the local to the federal level, and have not internalised the spirit of federalism.

Dahal had made a similar intervention in the Sudurpashim Province. Against what provincial assembly members wanted, he directed the party to make Khagaraj Bhatta a parliamentary party leader.

“The tendency is prevalent across party lines. Just that came to the surface in the Maoist Centre,” said Devkota. “It is unfortunate that the political parties haven’t learnt a lesson even after the Gen Z movement. What will it take for them to transform?”

Ansari had made similar remarks in his address to the assembly. “The Gen Z movement changed the political landscape, but the character of our leaders remains unchanged,” he said, pointing at Dahal.