The political tension in Madhesh Province has surged after the Supreme Court on Monday ordered Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav to seek a vote of confidence within 24 hours, or else instructed the provincial head to begin forming a new government under Article 168(2) of the constitution.

Yadav now has three options: resign, face the provincial assembly vote, or be automatically removed after 24 hours.

CPN-UML provincial lawmaker Pramod Kumar Jaiswal said he spoke to Yadav Tuesday morning. “We’re in talks, he ended the call, saying we’ll discuss later. The chief minister is consulting the Nepali Congress. He has not held serious talks with us yet,” Jaiswal said.

Congress chief whip Kuwar Kant Jha said it’s unclear whether the assembly will be convened. “All 22 Congress lawmakers are expected in Janakpur by 1:30pm. Everyone is on alert,” he added.

Meanwhile, seven parties have verbally requested Deputy Speaker Babita Raut Isar to convene the assembly at 4pm on Tuesday. Loktantrik Samajbadi Party lawmaker Upendra Mahato said the deputy speaker assured him she would issue a notice after consultations.

The dispute reached the Supreme Court after then province chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari appointed Yadav as CM under Article 168(3), following which both the province chief and Speaker Ramchandra Mandal lost their posts.