Pressure Mounts to Change Koshi Chief Minister as Rai Urges Karki to Step Aside

Dragon Media News Desk

Calls for a change in leadership have intensified amid discussions over the reconstitution of the Koshi Province government, with CPN-UML Secretary and provincial in-charge Sher Dhan Rai urging Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki to resign and clear the way for a new government.

Citing a directive from party Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Rai asked Karki to step down to facilitate the formation of a new provincial administration, according to UML sources.

After returning from a visit to the United Kingdom, Rai travelled to Biratnagar and held discussions with UML members of the Provincial Assembly on government restructuring and leadership change. A party source said he subsequently asked the chief minister to resign.

Rai has publicly stated that the party’s central leadership favours changing the chief minister in Koshi Province.

“The central leadership wants the chief minister to be changed, and discussions are taking place accordingly,” he said.

Rai said efforts were underway to reach a conclusion on government restructuring and the selection of new leadership by Sunday evening.

Under an agreement between the Nepali Communist Party and the CPN-UML on the allocation of provincial leadership, Koshi Province has remained under the UML’s control. UML parliamentary party leader Hikmat Kumar Karki currently heads the provincial government.

Karki Insists on Formal Party Decision

Chief Minister Karki has argued that changing the leadership while the government remains under the UML would send an unfavourable political message.

He has maintained that any decision to replace him must be made institutionally through a formal meeting of the party. As the relevant UML body has not yet adopted an official decision, Karki has said the government cannot be changed merely on the basis of personal instructions or informal discussions.

Leaders close to Karki have said he would take the necessary steps only after receiving a formal party decision. They argue that demanding his resignation without following the party’s rules, procedures and institutional mechanisms would be inappropriate.

Constitutional Provision Complicates Leadership Change

The current government led by Karki was formed under Article 168(5) of the Constitution.

Karki was appointed chief minister on Baisakh 27, 2081 BS, with the support of 52 Provincial Assembly members—39 from the UML and 13 from the then CPN (Maoist Centre).

In governments formed under Article 168(1) or 168(2), a change in the parliamentary party leadership may make it comparatively easier to begin the political process of forming a new government.

However, in a government formed under Article 168(5), where a chief minister demonstrates the support of individual Provincial Assembly members, a change in the parliamentary party leader does not automatically remove the incumbent chief minister.

UML leaders therefore believe that forming a new government will remain complicated unless Karki resigns or another constitutional process is initiated.

Menyangbo Being Considered as Possible Successor

Some UML leaders are preparing to advance party central committee member and deputy leader of the provincial parliamentary party Til Kumar Menyangbo as Karki’s possible successor.

According to UML sources, Menyangbo has been holding discussions with Provincial Assembly members and party leaders at different levels regarding his possible nomination as chief minister.

There is also discussion within the party that Chairman Oli supports advancing Menyangbo as an alternative to Karki. However, several UML office-bearers and provincial leaders are reportedly in favour of retaining Karki.

Some unidentified UML sources have linked the party leadership’s dissatisfaction with Karki to the previous election, alleging that he played an internal role in efforts to defeat Chairman Oli. However, this serious allegation has not been independently or officially verified.

With no formal party decision yet, Karki showing no willingness to resign and internal disagreement continuing over his successor, the process of restructuring the Koshi Province government has become increasingly complicated.