Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has stepped in to save his party’s government in Madhesh Province, holding talks with CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli as Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav faces a deadline to seek a vote of confidence.

Thapa visited Oli’s residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, on Tuesday night and spoke with him in private, sources said. He argued that changing the government with only a year left in the provincial assembly’s term would send a poor message, urging Oli to restore the coalition.

The government was thrown into crisis after the UML withdrew its support and recalled all four ministers on October 16. The party accused the Congress-led coalition of failing to implement a 15-point agreement. Yadav must secure a trust vote within 30 days.

“The Congress is holding discussions with all parties on the confidence vote, but we have not reached any concrete conclusion,” said Birendra Singh, Congress Madhesh vice-president and provincial assembly member.

Congress formed the government with the UML and Nepali Communist Party (NCP). The NCP has continued supporting Yadav despite its alliance with the UML elsewhere. The two communist parties are working together in provincial governments, although Congress still leads Madhesh and Gandaki.

Oli told Thapa he would consult NCP leaders and his own party before deciding, sources said. The UML’s withdrawal followed a wider realignment after Congress left UML-NCP coalitions in six other provinces.

The UML had explored forming a new government with Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Janamat Party and the NCP. But the plan has stalled because JSP Nepal chair Upendra Yadav and Janamat chair CK Raut have not endorsed it.

JSP Nepal leaders had discussed leading a replacement government with UML and Janamat lawmakers. But the party has yet to decide whether to join or what role it would take. “Our chair is abroad. Discussions may take place after he returns in four or five days,” said Lalbabu Raut, the party’s general secretary and a former chief minister. “There is an understanding that JSP Nepal will be part of the next government, but its role has not been discussed.”

Madhesh has seen repeated changes of government during the current assembly term. The first government led by JSP Nepal’s Saroj Kumar Yadav (Bara) fell after 15 months. Janamat’s Satish Kumar Singh resigned after 13 months, followed by Loktantrik Samajbadi Party leader Jitendra Sonal. Sonal’s government collapsed after two NCP lawmakers rebelled during a confidence vote.

The UML-led government that followed was challenged in the Supreme Court. The court ruled its formation unconstitutional, paving the way for the Congress-led coalition.

The 104-member assembly has 28 JSP Nepal lawmakers, 24 from the UML, 22 from Congress, 15 from the NCP and 12 from Janamat. Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party have one member each. A majority requires 53 votes, leaving Yadav dependent on support beyond Congress if the UML votes against him.