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Kathmandu, Aug 11: The Nepali Congress change of leadership in Bagmati Province has failed to end infighting, with the faction led by former chief minister Bahadur Singh Lama threatening to withhold support when new CM Indra Baniya seeks a vote of confidence next week.

Baniya replaced Lama as both parliamentary party leader and chief minister last month. Lama’s camp claims party president Sher Bahadur Deuba had mediated a deal between the two, but it has yet to be implemented. Central to their demand is the appointment of three NC lawmakers — Govinda Lamsal, Maya Shrestha and Gita Gurung — as ministers, a pledge Lama’s side says was part of the agreement. The trio was named ministers by Lama on July 29 but never sworn in due to CPN-UML’s objection and the provincial chief’s illness.

After losing the party leadership vote, Lama resigned on Aug 2. Baniya has since formed a cabinet giving two ministries to NC lawmakers Krishna Kumar Tamang and Shivraj Adhikari, keeping five NC portfolios under his control. All six ministries allocated to UML have been filled. Lama’s faction, which controls 14 provincial assembly members, says this under-representation violates the spirit of the earlier understanding.

With the confidence vote set for Tuesday, both NC and UML have issued whips to ensure party-line voting. Lama’s supporters met in Kathmandu on Saturday to strategize and warned of a collective resignation from the assembly if their demands are ignored. Some NC members believe this is being used as a bargaining tactic to secure more ministries.

Baniya’s camp maintains that cabinet expansion will only happen after the confidence vote, and appointments will consider merit and regional balance rather than factional quotas. “There is no need for suspicion,” said NC lawmaker Shriram Lamichhane, who voted for Baniya in the leadership contest.

NC parliamentary party will meet Tuesday morning before the vote. Both sides claim they are open to talks, with NC provincial lawmaker Ramesh Mahat, a Lama supporter, saying he is mediating. “Power sharing arrangements are under discussion and I believe an understanding will be reached before the vote,” he said.

Uncertainty remains over whether the reported deal between Lama and Baniya was solely about cabinet division or included broader governance arrangements. Lama’s side insists the government must be run with internal balance and not under the unilateral control of the CM and party leader.

Baniya currently claims the backing of all 37 NC and 27 UML lawmakers, giving him a comfortable 64 votes in the 110-member assembly — unless the rift turns into open defiance on voting day.

People’s News Monitoring Service