Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Resigns

On Monday, Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and prominent Madhesi leader Upendra Yadav resigned, and his party withdrew from the cabinet, a setback to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda-led coalition government.

According to the report, Yadav, who is also the Minister for Health and Population, offered his resignation to Prime Minister Prachanda on Monday morning. Along with Yadav, Minister of State for Forest and Environment Dipak Karki, from the same party, has resigned.

Yadav’s resignation as Chairman of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal (JSP-Nepal), comes a week after the party split into two sections, with senior leader Ashok Rai forming a new party named ‘Janata Samajwadi Party’. The new party has been recognized by the Election Commission.

“This morning, I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Dahal. Given the current political situation, I find it untenable to continue my cooperation with the government”, Deputy Prime Minister noted.

The JSP-Nepal had a total of 12 MPs in the House of Representatives (HoR). Rai, six additional parliamentarians, and 30 central committee members have joined the new party, reducing the party’s strength in the House of Representatives to five seats.

“The party’s pull out from the government will not have an immediate impact on the Prachanda-led coalition government”, stated Sunil Manandhar, former environment minister and central committee member of the ruling CPN-Maoist Centre.

Manandhar went on to say, “However, it may have some repercussions on the stability of the government in the long term”.

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