The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has directed its lawmaker Kanchan Bichchha to leave the newly formed Madhesh provincial government immediately, terming her participation without the party’s consent a serious breach of discipline.

RPP chair Rajendra Lingden said the party’s attention had been drawn to its involvement in the Madhesh Cabinet and instructed Bichchha, who took oath as a minister without portfolio, to leave from the government. He warned that failure to comply would invite disciplinary action as per the party statute.

Lingden wrote on social media, “The RPP’s attention has been drawn to the party’s involvement in the Madhesh provincial government. This is a serious violation of party discipline. The concerned member is directed to leave the government immediately, or face action in line with the statute.”

The development follows the late-night appointment of CPN-UML parliamentary party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as chief minister by Province Head Sumitra Subedi Bhandari at Panas Cottage in Bardibas early Monday.

Bhandari had left Janakpur at 4am, citing health reasons, and was seen off by caretaker Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal. However, she travelled to Bardibas, where she appointed Yadav as chief minister under Article 168(3) of the constitution early in the morning.

Yadav took the oath of office at 5:20am on Monday, along with UML’s Lakhan Das Tatma, Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party’s Bimala Ansari, and RPP’s Kanchan Bichchha as ministers without portfolio.

Bhandari’s sudden move has drawn widespread criticism from several parties that had been urging her to call for government formation under Article 168(2) instead. The previous government led by Jitendra Prasad Sonal had collapsed on Saturday after he failed to win a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly.