Janakpurdham [Nepal], November 10 (ANI): The Office of the Chief Minister in Janakpur, Nepal, was vandalised on Monday amid escalating political unrest in the Madhesh province, following the controversial appointment of UML parliamentary party leader Saroj Yadav as Chief Minister.
Tensions erupted soon after Yadav’s appointment, with provincial assembly members and several individuals storming into the Chief Minister’s chamber, damaging furniture, and hurling away the national flag displayed in the office. The incident has underscored growing instability in the province bordering India.
The violence broke out shortly after Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari appointed Yadav as Chief Minister from a hotel in Bardibas, Mahottari, under Article 168 (3) of the Constitution—a move that has triggered widespread outrage across the province. Security forces have since tightened measures around provincial government premises.
The political turmoil deepened after Bhandari, who was appointed as Province Chief during KP Sharma Oli’s premiership, bypassed the Nepali Congress-led alliance and administered Yadav’s oath of office in Bardibas early Monday morning.
Former Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal, who resigned just a day earlier, accused Bhandari of “betraying the people of Madhesh” by secretly appointing Yadav while pretending to leave for medical treatment in Kathmandu.
The Nepali Congress, which had been preparing to form a new coalition government with the Maoist Centre and Madhesh-based parties after withdrawing support from the UML alliance, also condemned the move.
Congress General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma called the development a blow to federal politics. “What has happened in Madhesh Province is deeply unfortunate. This ‘anti-politics’ will only fuel public frustration toward federalism,” Sharma wrote on X. “Even when a government could have been formed under Article 168 (2), this farce was staged. We expect the judiciary to correct it.”
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) also denounced Province Chief Bhandari’s decision to appoint Yadav from a hotel, calling it unconstitutional and unethical.
RPP Chairman Rajendra Prasad Lingden said his party’s attention had been drawn to the matter, calling it a “serious violation of party discipline.” In a statement posted on social media, Lingden instructed all RPP members involved in the Madhesh government to withdraw immediately, warning of disciplinary action for non-compliance. (ANI)
About The Author
