JANAKPURDHAM, Dec 8: Newly appointed Chief Minister of Madhesh Province Krishna Prasad Yadav wasted no time after taking the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday. Sworn in by Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna at the Madhesh Building, Yadav—also the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader of the Nepali Congress (NC) in Madhesh provincial assembly—assumed office with the backing of 77 provincial assembly members from seven parties.
Saroj Kumar Yadav of the CPN-UML had earlier led the government as the leader of the largest party under Article 168(3) of the Constitution. He resigned on December 3, leading to the appointment of NC’s Krishna Prasad Yadav under Article 168(2).
Although all seven parties that supported Yadav are set to join the government, ministerial allocations remain unresolved. Due to the delay, the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), and CPN (Maoist Centre) have not yet joined. JSP-Nepal parliamentary party leader Saroj Kumar Yadav said the party would enter the government only after the Chief Minister secures a vote of confidence.
Yadav is set to seek the vote on December 10.
Oli threatens to revoke all decisions of caretaker govt
A meeting of the ruling coalition on Sunday endorsed the plan, JSP-Nepal Chief Whip Ram Ashish Yadav confirmed. LSP PP leader Jainul Ansari also said their participation hinges on the finalisation of ministries.
According to the power-sharing agreement among the seven parties, JSP Nepal will receive three ministries, including the Speaker. The CPN (Unified Socialist) and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) together will also receive three ministries. The NC, including the CM, will take two ministries, while the LSP and the Janamat Party will each receive two.
Janamat Party’s parliamentary party leader Mahesh Prasad Yadav has already taken the oath as Finance Minister. Kanesh Patel from Unified Socialist and Jangilal Yadav from the NC have been sworn in as ministers without portfolio. CM Yadav took the oath in his mother tongue, Bajjika.
In its first decision, the Council of Ministers cancelled all decisions taken by the previous government. The new cabinet nullified decisions made by the Saroj Kumar Yadav-led administration between November 9 and December 7, including transfers, deputations, changes in responsibilities, and additional assignments.
Madhesh Province Chief Attorney dismissed
The Madhesh Province Chief Attorney Surendra Kumar Mahato has been removed from his position. Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna dismissed Mahato as per Article 160(4)(b) of the Constitution after CM Yadav recommended his removal on Sunday.
Mahato was appointed from the Janamat Party’s quota during Satish Kumar Singh’s government. He had represented the Madhesh government at the Supreme Court in the case filed by seven parties, including the NC, challenging Saroj Kumar Yadav’s appointment under Article 168(3).
Journey from Constituent Assembly to CM
Born on August 25, 1967, in Bariyarpur, Gadhimai Municipality–8 in Rautahat, Krishna Prasad Yadav comes from a politically active family. His father Ramchandra Yadav was elected VDC Chairperson of Bariyarpur in 2054 BS from the NC.
Yadav entered active NC politics after the 1990 People’s Movement. In 2007, he was elected to the first Constituent Assembly from Rautahat Constituency No. 4. He later served twice as the NC district president in Rautahat and currently heads the party’s Madhesh Province committee.
He was elected to the provincial assembly in 2022 from Constituency No. 1 (B). During the JSP-Nepal-led provincial government, he also served as Minister for Physical Infrastructure.
