Madhesh government in crisis: Congress struggles to save majority, new alliance talks underway

The Madhesh Province government has found it difficult to survive after UML withdrew its support, leaving the Nepali Congress-led coalition in a minority.

UML pulled out of the government led by Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav on Asoj 30. Yadav, who is also leader of the Congress parliamentary party, must now seek a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly within the stipulated time.

At least 54 lawmakers' support is required to win the confidence vote. Chief Minister Yadav currently has only 37 lawmakers behind him — 22 from Congress and 15 from the CPN (Unified Socialist).

Meanwhile, talks are underway among the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, UML and other parties on a new power-sharing arrangement, though no formal decision on forming a new government has been made yet.