Bagmati Province Chief Minister Shalikram Jamkattel has stepped down from his position. His resignation comes shortly after addressing the provincial assembly and following a recommendation from the Maoist Center’s provincial parliamentary party.
Jamkattel, who had previously sought a vote of confidence, has now officially vacated the Chief Minister’s office. He expressed his intention to have his achievements recorded by the provincial assembly and reiterated the Maoist Center’s role as a constructive opposition.
The political instability in the province reached a tipping point on July 8 when the CPN-UML withdrew its support for the government, reducing it to a minority. This marked the end of Jamkattel’s 18-month tenure, which began in January 2023 with a coalition of UML, RAPRAPA, Maoist Center, and Unified Socialist.
Despite facing a vote of confidence in March 2023, Jamkattel managed to retain his position with the support of Congress and United Socialists. However, the recent realignment of political forces at the federal level, with the Maoist Center joining hands with the UML, led to a change in the provincial power dynamics.
The UML, in collaboration with the Maoist Center, United Socialists, and Our Nepali Party, formed a new government in Bagmati earlier this month. Bahadur Sinlama from the Congress party is set to become the next Chief Minister, with the necessary signatures for government formation already collected.
This rapid succession of governments in Bagmati Province highlights the fluid and dynamic nature of Nepalese politics.
