Mar 23, Kathmandu: After the revival of the old alliance in the presidential election, there are signs of a change in the power equation in Gandaki province as well.

Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) joined the coalition and have started internal exercises to form a new government. With the change in the central equation, the state government has also changed. Now the government of Gandaki province is under the leadership of the CPN (UML).

With the support of the Maoist Center and Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, UML's Khagraj Adhikari was appointed as the Chief Minister on January 09.  Gandaki State Assembly Parliamentary Party Congress leader  Surendra Pandey said that the process of forming a new government will proceed as soon as the Maoist Center withdraws its support to the Chief Minister.

"Discussions are being held at the top level of the coalition parties regarding the distribution of the leadership of the provincial government, it will be finalized within a day or two", he said, "Even in Gandaki after the Maoists withdraw their support from the government, the process of forming another government will begin as per the constitutional provisions."

With the Maoist Center, which has eight members of the state assembly (including the speaker), withdrawing its support, the current government is in a minority. The government is supported by 22 members of the UML and two members of the RPP, including the Maoists. Even if RPP withdraws its support in the 60-member provincial assembly, the government loses its majority.

The RPP, which has withdrawn from the Union and some other provincial governments, has not yet decided to withdraw from Gandaki. The Gandaki government has four ministers from the UML, two from the Maoist Center, and one from the RPP, including the Chief Minister. Congress Parliamentary Party leader Pandey said that they are aware of the Maoist decision.

"First, the Maoists had to leave the government, they had to withdraw their support", he said, "After that, the Chief Minister has two options left, either to resign or to take a vote of confidence within 30 days." Leader Pandey says that it would be best for the Chief Minister to resign if he cannot get a vote of confidence. He said that if he does not resign, the process will proceed according to the constitutional provisions.

Leader Pandey mentioned that there is no justification for calling a special session of the Provincial Assembly after the Constitution itself has stipulated that a vote of confidence should be taken within one month. Hari Bahadur Chuman, Minister of Physical Infrastructure Development of the provincial government and leader of the Maoist Center's parliamentary party, said that after the power equation at the center changes, its effect will naturally fall on the province as well.

"UML has not withdrawn from the federal government, but this situation will not last for a long time," he said. Leader Chuman said that the Maoists played a role in forming the government twice under the leadership of UML and once under the leadership of Congress, and said that they will have their claim on the next chief minister.

"Maoists should get the Chief Minister, this is a natural claim, this time the Congress should help us", he said, "when Alopalo is in leadership, the Congress will get it later, now it should be given to the Maoists." Leader Chuman said that he had met with the Prime Minister and Party President Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachand' about taking the leadership of the Gandaki state government. "We are capable of running the government in a method and system, I am ready to take the leadership of the Chief Minister", he said.

On the other hand, the Nepali Congress is also in the homework of forming a government under its own leadership. Congress is the largest party in the state assembly with 27 members. Pandey, leader of the Congress parliamentary party, said that the Congress will lead the Gandaki state government.

"There has not been a concrete agreement that the leadership of the government will be alternated between the Congress and the Maoists, but it can be alternated," said leader Pandey. He said that Congress will lead the government in the first phase and then there may be an agreement with the Maoist party.

In the recently concluded presidential and vice-presidential elections, the balance between the parties that formed an alliance in the general elections held last November has been affected by the federal government. The UML has left the federal government, while the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Unified Socialist) are preparing to ascend to power. Now it is seen that its effect will also affect the state government of the country. Accordingly, it is said that there are signs of change in the government of Gandaki province.