CPN-UML on Tuesday began a sit-in at the Janaki Temple area in Janakpur, demanding that Madhesh Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav be allowed to carry out his duties.

Party leaders and cadres joined the protests, saying the constitution must be protected and the chief minister must be allowed to work.

A writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court by Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Krishna Prasad Yadav and 74 provincial lawmakers, claiming that the Chief Minister Yadav-led government was formed unconstitutionally. The court, on November 11, issued an interim order and told Chief Minister Yadav not to make decisions with long-term consequences.

The writ petition related to the formation of the Madhesh provincial government is scheduled for hearing today before a bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel.

Meanwhile, the seven-party alliance continued its separate sit-in for the ninth consecutive day in Janakpur on Tuesday. The alliance has accused the UML-led provincial government of being unconstitutional and Speaker Ramchandra Mandal of acting in favour of one party.

Leaders and cadres of the seven parties staged their sit-in at the main gate of the Madhesh provincial headquarters.