Madhesh Province Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav will face a confidence vote in the Provincial Assembly at 1 pm on Saturday, Nov 14, after two coalition partners withdrew their support from his Nepali Congress-led government.
Provincial Assembly Speaker Ram Ashish Yadav confirmed on Thursday that the Assembly will meet at that time. The Assembly’s Business Advisory Committee is due to meet on Friday, Nov 13, to finalize the agenda. The vote need 54 votes.
How the government lost its majority
CPN-UML withdrew its support and recalled its four ministers on Oct 16. UML accused the Congress-led government of failing to honor a 15-point understanding. The points included reducing the number of provincial ministries, ending unnecessary commissions and appointments, and avoiding interference in ministers’ departmental work. UML leader Manoj Paudel said the Chief Minister had not kept those commitments.
On Nov 3, Congress President Gagan Thapa visited UML chair KP Sharma Oli at his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, to try to restore cooperation. He argued that replacing the provincial government with about a year left in the Assembly’s term would send a poor political message. Congress confirmed on Nov 5 that no concrete agreement had been reached. Congress Madhesh Vice-President Birendra Singh also said talks were continuing without a conclusion.
On Nov 6, the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Madhesh parliamentary party decided at a virtual meeting to withdraw support, and its four ministers resigned. Provincial Assembly member Benchi Lungeli confirmed the decision. NCP had stayed with Yadav after UML left. On Nov 9, Yadav was said to be considering resignation if he could not secure support, and on Nov 11 he announced he would seek a vote of confidence.
Who holds the seats
The Assembly has a full strength of 107. The total comprises of:
• Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSP Nepal): 27
• CPN-UML: 23
• Nepali Congress: 22
• NCP: 15
• Janamat Party: 12
• Nepal Federal Socialist Party: 1
• Rastriya Prajatantra Party: 1
Six positions were affected by suspensions and resignations.
On these numbers, Congress and JSP Nepal together would have 49. Congress, UML and the Federal Socialist Party would have 46. Neither reaches 54.
An alternative government
Opposition parties have been discussing a replacement government. JSP Nepal’s Madhesh parliamentary party leader, Saroj Kumar Yadav, agreed to become Chief Minister under such an arrangement. UML, JSP Nepal and Janamat together hold 62 seats, and UML, NCP and JSP Nepal hold 65.
JSP Nepal is divided. It is part of the Progressive Front, which announced that its member parties would not join governments before the next election that party chair Upendra Yadav met Oli in Gundu and asked UML not to create further difficulties for his party in Madhesh. JSP leader Manish Suman said the party does not favor changing provincial governments every year, but that it will not give Krishna Prasad Yadav a vote of confidence. He said JSP had little choice but to lead a government to prevent the Assembly from being dissolved. UML publicity department head Niraj Acharya said his party was acting under its agreement with NCP after Congress failed to agree to their plans.
The national backdrop
On July 25, Oli and NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal signed a three-point agreement to cooperate in provincial assemblies and form coalition governments. Under it, UML would lead Koshi, Bagmati and Lumbini, and NCP would lead Karnali and Sudurpashchim. Leadership in Madhesh and Gandaki was left to consultation. >Congress later decided to end power-sharing with UML across the provinces. UML and NCP lack the seats to form a Madhesh government alone, which is why JSP Nepal and Janamat are central.
A history of instability
Yadav became the sixth Chief Minister of Madhesh on Dec 5, 2025, under Article 168(2), with a seven-party coalition claiming the support of 77 lawmakers. It comprised Congress, JSP Nepal, Janamat, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Maoist Centre, Unified Socialist and Nagarik Unmukti Party. The Maoist Centre and Unified Socialist later merged to form NCP.
His predecessors include Saroj Kumar Yadav of JSP Nepal, Satish Kumar Singh of Janamat and Jitendra Prasad Sonal of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party. In November 2025, Province Chief Sumitra Subedi Bhandari appointed UML’s Saroj Kumar Yadav at a hotel in Mahottari. The Supreme Court ruled the appointment unconstitutional and ordered a confidence procedure, and he resigned after failing to show a majority. On May 22 this year, with UML’s backing, Krishna Prasad Yadav won a confidence vote 62 to 36, with 100 members present. Congress, UML, NCP and the Federal Socialist Party supported him, while JSP Nepal, Janamat and the RPP opposed.
What the Constitution says
Article 188(2) requires a Chief Minister to table a confidence motion within 30 days when a coalition partner withdraws. The motion must win a majority of all members, not just those present. If it fails, Article 169 makes the office vacant, and the Council of Ministers continues until a new government form. Under Article 168, the Province Chief then invites a member who can command a majority with the support of two or more parties. If that fails, the largest party’s leader is appointed, with further attempts and, as a last resort, dissolution and fresh elections. A failed vote does not automatically dissolve the Assembly.
What is next
The Business Advisory Committee meets on Friday. No party has formally committed to supporting either Yadav or the alternative government. JSP Nepal’s national and provincial leaders have not announced a common position. If the motion fails, the Province Chief will begin the process of inviting claims to form a new government.
