JANAKPURDHAM: The resignation of Madhesh Province Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav has been accepted by Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna, Radio Nepal reported on Saturday, citing a statement issued by the Office of the Province Chief.

Source: Radio Nepal

According to the statement, the resignation tendered by Yadav was accepted in accordance with Article 169 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Nepal. The statement added that, under Article 169 (3), the existing Council of Ministers will continue to function until a new Provincial Council of Ministers is constituted.

Claims invited for a new government

The process of forming a new government has now begun. The Office of the Province Chief has invited members of the Provincial Assembly who can secure a majority to stake their claim for the post of Chief Minister under Article 168 (2) of the Constitution, Radio Nepal reported in a separate dispatch.

Source: Radio Nepal

Under Article 168 (2), an assembly member who can command a majority with the support of two or more political parties represented in the assembly can be appointed Chief Minister. The deadline for submitting claims is 4 pm on November 20.

How the government lost its majority

Yadav, a Nepali Congress leader, had been due to face a vote of confidence in the 107-member Provincial Assembly on Saturday after two coalition partners withdrew their support. The CPN-UML withdrew last month, with its four ministers resigning on October 11, and four ministers of the Nepali Communist Party resigned on November 6 as that party also pulled out, leaving the government in a minority. A majority in the assembly requires at least 54 members.

The resignation was also reported across Nepali media, including Khabarhub, the Annapurna Express, MyRepublica, Setopati and Ratopati, according to a multi-outlet news cluster tracking the development.