Seven parties protesting the formation of a new government in Madhesh Province continued their sit-in on Monday, saying the CPN-UML-led government is unconstitutional.

Leaders of the opposition alliance staged a sit-in for the eighth consecutive day outside the Madhesh Building in Janakpur, the provincial headquarters. They said they were waiting for the Supreme Court’s verdict on writ petitions challenging the appointment of Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav.

Ram Ashish Yadav, chief whip of the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, said they have continued a peaceful sit-in while waiting for the top court’s verdict.

The Supreme Court on November 10 issued an interim order directing that the status quo be maintained, saying the appointment process appeared prima facie unconstitutional. The single bench of Justice Tek Prasad Dhungana barred Yadav from performing official duties until a final verdict.

The order was issued after hearing on a writ petition filed against Yadav’s appointment, which took place at a hotel in Bardibas. The court said the decision by then Province Head Sumitra Subedi Bhandari required constitutional clarification before taking an irreversible action.

The order also instructed the provincial government not to take any decisions having long-term consequences until the final ruling.

Earlier, 74 provincial assembly members, except those from the UML, filed a separate petition arguing the government formation violated constitutional provisions.