JANAKPURDHAM, Nov 16: Seven political parties continued their sit-in protest on Sunday, demanding the annulment of what they claim was an unconstitutional appointment of CPN-UML Parliamentary Party (PP) leader Saroj Kumar Yadav as Chief Minister of Madhesh Province.
Since early morning, leaders and cadres of the Nepali Congress (NC), Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSP-N), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP), CPN (Unified Socialist), CPN (Maoist Centre), Janamat Party, and Nagarik Unmukti Party demonstrated in front of the Madhes Province Office building.
Hearing on case against cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane today
The parties argue that former Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari bypassed Article 168(2) of the Constitution—still applicable at the time—and instead invoked Article 168(3) to appoint Yadav as Chief Minister solely on the basis of UML being the largest party. The protest has been ongoing since November 10.
Alongside the street demonstrations, 74 lawmakers from the seven parties have filed a writ petition at the SC challenging the appointment. A hearing on the case is scheduled for today, JSP-N chief whip Ram Ashish Yadav said, adding that the parties are holding a “peaceful sit-in while awaiting the court’s decision.”
Earlier, the SC had issued an interim order instructing the government not to take any decision that could have long-term consequences.
