Koshi Province Government Faces Instability Amidst UML Party Dispute

Biratnagar. The impact of the dispute within the CPN-UML has also been felt in the Koshi Province government. As the issue of reorganization within the UML intensifies, Koshi Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki has found himself on the opposing side of Chairman Oli. In the 11th General Convention of the UML held in Poush, Chief Minister Karki and former Chief Minister Sherdhan Rai, both from Koshi, were elected as secretaries. There was also a dispute over who was the 'senior' among the two secretaries. Ultimately, Sherdhan Rai secured the position of in-charge. Subsequently, Chief Minister Karki, who had been gradually distancing himself, was pushed even further away from Oli by the elections on Falgun 21. Some suggest that Oli, who was defeated in Jhapa Constituency No. 5 in the elections, concluded that Chief Minister Karki was one of the reasons for his defeat. Following this, Oli began an effort to gradually sideline Chief Minister Karki. As this opposition grew, Deepak Karki, the elder brother of Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, clearly stated in the Koshi Province-level review meeting held in Asar, 'Leadership change is necessary.' After Karki stated in the meeting that an alternative to the Jhapa party leadership should be sought, the Jhapa UML Chairman protested. Oli, of course, understood that the Karki family was seeking an alternative to him. In his frustration, Oli himself took the lead in an campaign to remove Chief Minister Karki and install another Chief Minister. Initially, Oli launched a campaign to make the budget fail. However, Chief Minister Karki remained secure, successfully navigating this campaign. Subsequently, although a three-point agreement was reached with the CPN, another opportunity arose for Oli to remove Chief Minister Karki. In that context, he put forward Til Kumar Menyangbo, the Deputy Leader of the UML Parliamentary Party in Koshi, and inspired his close MPs to join the same campaign. It is said by the opposing faction that as part of Oli's effort, UML Koshi In-charge and Secretary Sherdhan Rai, UML Koshi Chairman Ghanshyam Khatiwada, and others called all MPs and made them sign against the Chief Minister. 'Signatures were obtained against the agreement and pressure was applied. The Chief Minister is proceeding as per the consultation, but the in-charge on the other side is working differently from that agreement,' said UML MP Revatiraman Bhandari. 'A lot of pressure was applied.' Not only that, but during this period, In-charge Rai, who is also a UML Secretary, met Karki and told him that the party line was for him to resign as Chief Minister. Following this, a war of words ensued between Chief Minister Karki and Province In-charge Rai on social media and in the media. Koshi Chief Minister Hikmat Karki expressed dissatisfaction in an interview with the BBC, stating that someone of his level came and told him to step down. 'What authority does someone of my level or below me in the party have to come and instruct me to step down as Chief Minister?' he said. 'The party has not asked me to resign. Specifically, the Province In-charge (Sherdhan Rai), who is a colleague at my level, came and talked about resignation. I directly said – your words cannot be the official decision of the party for me.' Chief Minister Karki emphasized that for a party decision, it must be sent in writing by the Chairman institutionally. In-charge Rai responded in the public media. 'This is not my personal matter. I am the one who will speak about the party's affairs and the leadership's directives. I have no personal stance on this. We are discussing giving turns and opportunities to new friends,' Rai said. 'Koshi Province has a unique sensitivity and specific circumstances. In such a situation, it is natural to discuss whether it is better to advance new friends or give turns to colleagues. Once a decision is made institutionally by the party committee and the chairman, there is no question of not obeying it.' Rai also wrote a long status on social media, stating that he practices politics with integrity and made veiled remarks targeting Chief Minister Karki. While this exchange between the two leaders was ongoing, the province's MPs also began to divide into two factions. Two ministers, Tilchan Pathak and Indramani Parajuli, were also involved in the signature campaign against Chief Minister Karki. Parajuli is also the spokesperson for the government. MPs close to Oli claim that 31 people signed in favor of them, including the ministers. However, MPs close to the Chief Minister claim that the Oli faction was forced to back down when only 17 people signed, including the two ministers, as they did not have the majority. 'If there had been a majority signature, would they have let go so easily?' said an MP close to the Chief Minister. 'They backed down when they reached 17 signatures with just two ministers signing. As soon as the majority of MPs signed, it would have reached Chairman Oli's WhatsApp. Then the Chief Minister would have been removed.' As the verbal sparring between both sides began, their arguments also took place on social media Facebook. UML MP Meena Shrestha expressed dissatisfaction on social media, claiming that news was being published online against her own party and leadership. 'Why open/get online news written to defame your own party leadership! Isn't it enough that others are already defaming us? Shame! Don't do it this much,' she wrote. Meanwhile, Kamal Poudel, the personal secretary of Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, also wrote a status on social media implying that Chairman Oli should step down from the party leadership. 'Listen guys, you are also doing politics. I have made the party whole and strong. Don't spoil it! What if I say this,' his status reads. Amidst the ongoing exchange between the factions, Chief Minister Karki had a long meeting with Oli on Wednesday. News emerged that the discussion between Chief Minister Karki and Oli, who had a one-on-one meeting on Tuesday, concluded with an agreement on Wednesday, and Karki would continue as Chief Minister. However, MPs from the Oli faction claim that the establishment faction has not backed down but has merely provided a 'face-saving' opportunity for the Chief Minister. 'He was given one to one and a half months for face-saving. At most, after a month and a half, the Chairman will ask for resignation. Then a new government will come under the leadership of a new Chief Minister in Koshi,' said that MP. The dispute within the UML still persists, as seen even after the cabinet meeting held on Friday. Chief Minister Karki sent Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Bidur Kumar Lingthep for the media briefing instead of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law, Indramani Parajuli, who was previously the government spokesperson. Minister Lingthep read out and publicized the decisions of the cabinet meeting on Friday. Previously, when Parajuli was unavailable, another minister, Tilchan Pathak, used to announce the cabinet decisions. Parajuli and Pathak were recently active in the campaign to remove Chief Minister Karki and install Til Kumar Menyangbo as Chief Minister. UML MP Meena Shrestha's claim that the Chief Minister will be changed further supports the fact that the dispute persists. 'The Chief Minister will be changed. There is no continuity. When the party chairman asks for resignation, he will resign, and there will be a change,' Shrestha said. The CPN also raised this issue during a discussion between the two parties held on Friday. Indrabahadur Angbo, leader of the CPN parliamentary party, questioned Sherdhan Rai, UML Central Secretary and Koshi Province In-charge, about the future of the government led by Chief Minister Karki during the meeting. 'We have raised this issue with the UML. What about your stability? If it is only for a short time or just for face-saving each other, then the CPN will not join the government. We will give confidence, we will support, you run the government, and when asked this, they said there is nothing else like that, the government will move forward under Hikmatji's leadership,' Angbo said. 'If anything comes up in the future, we will discuss it then. There is nothing like this time, this duration. Their point is to form the government now and move forward without delay.' However, UML MPs themselves say that Karki's crisis will not be resolved until the dispute between the two factions of the UML is resolved. CPN MPs also claim that Chief Minister Karki's crisis persists, based on the statements of the Oli faction MPs. Chief Minister Karki was appointed on Jestha 13, 2081, according to Article 168(5) of the constitution.