The Nepali Congress has decided to form a new government in Lumbini Province under its leadership.

A meeting of the party held on Friday afternoon decided to form the government under its leadership and requested the parties including the Maoist Centre participating in the incumbent government led by the UML to leave the government.

Maoists are also trying to form a government under their own leadership, saying the province is the bastion of the party.

However, the party is yet to decide on the government formation due to internal disputes.

Congress provincial assembly leader Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary said it is obvious for the party to stake a claim for the new government, saying the government before the polls was led by Maoists with the support of Congress.

CPN-UML’s Lumbini provincial assembly leader Leela Giri was appointed Lumbini Province chief minister on January 11.

Giri was supported by CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party and three independent lawmakers.

Support from 44 provincial assembly members is required to form a government in the 87-member provincial assembly.

UML has 29 provincial assembly members, Nepali Congress 27, CPN (Maoist Centre) 10, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Janata Samajbadi Party four each, Janamat Party and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party three each and CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Janamorcha have one each provincial assembly member.