Provincial governments have started to feel the heat of the new political deal between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

The two largest political parties on Monday reached a deal to form the federal government under the leadership of UML chair KP Sharma Oli.

The CPN-UML swiftly pulled out from provincial governments in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces on Thursday.

The UML’s withdrawal of support to Chief Minister Jokh Bahadur Mahara in Lumbini Province and the government led by Dirgha Bahadur Sodari in Sudurpaschim Province has left both provincial governments in the minority. Mahara is from the CPN (Maoist Centre) while Sodari is from the CPN (Unified Socialist).

Madhesh Province is the third to make changes in the provincial power equation based on the new political alliance.

Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh of the Janamat Party sacked the six ministers from four parties on Saturday.

Singh sacked ministers from the Maoist Centre, Unified Socialist, Nagarik Unmukti Party and Sanghiya Samajbadi Party.

The chief minister dismissed Minister for Economic Affairs Bharat Prasad Sah, and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Yuvaraj Bhattarai of the Maoist Centre.

Likewise, Minister for Agriculture Govinda Neupane and Minister for Water Supply Minister Bechi Lungeli of the Unified Socialist were also dismissed.

Bimala Ansari, who was the minister for internal affairs from the Sanghiya Samajbadi Party, and Urmila Singh, who became the transport minister from the Nagarik Unmukti Party, were also relieved of their duties.

During the floor test on Saturday, Chief Minister Singh received support from the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress and Laktantrik Samajbadi Party.

As per the Congress-UML agreement, all the details of which are yet to be public, two parties have agreed to lead three of each provincial government, apart from Madhesh Province.

“Congress and UML have decided to lead three provincial governments each,” Yogesh Bhattarai, a secretary of UML, told the Post. “As per the understanding, tentatively Koshi, Lumbini and Karnali provinces are supposed to be led by our party. But the deal regarding the provincial governments is still to be finalised.”

Currently, Hikmat Karki and Yamlal Kandel of the CPN-UML are leading the provincial governments of Koshi and Karnali, respectively. Surendra Raj Pandey of Congress is the chief minister of Gandaki Province.

Salikram Jamkattel and Jokh Bahadur Mahara of the Maoist Centre are leading the governments of Bagmati and Lumbini provinces. Dirgharaj Sodari of Unified Socialist is the chief minister of Sudurpaschim.

Based on the number of provincial seats won by the parties, Congress is the largest in four assemblies of Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim while UML is largest in Koshi, Madhesh and Lumbini provinces. Leaders from the Congress and UML have agreed to allow the CK Raut-led Janamat Party to lead the provincial government in Madhesh.

With 40 seats, UML is the largest party in Koshi Province. Congress has 29 seats. Together, they have 69 seats in the 93-member assembly, far beyond the number to prove majority to form the government.

They have a comfortable majority in the 110-member Bagmati provincial assembly as the largest party Congress has 37 members and UML has 27.

In Lumbini the UML is the largest party with 29 seats followed by Congress with 27 seats. The two parties’ strength is more than enough to prove the majority in the 87-member Lumbini provincial assembly.

Congress, which has 27 seats, is the largest in Gandaki provincial assembly and the UML is second largest with 22 seats. In the 60-member assembly, the two parties together have a clear majority. Likewise, Congress has 14 seats and UML 10 in the 40-strong Karnali assembly. In the 53-member Sudurpaschim assembly, Congress has 17 seats, and UML has 11.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to seek a trust vote in the House of Representatives on July 12.

The process to form the new government at the centre is expected to begin after that.

Congress and UML leaders have claimed that they would do away with instability seen in the provincial governments so far.

“Two parties will take a decision regarding the provincial governments once the agreement comes into effect,” Congress leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki told the Post.“Two parties are yet to form the government at the centre. Once that is done, we will then discuss the provinces.”