KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has withdrawn its support to the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal in less than four months after forging an alliance with the Maoist Centre. All the eight ministers representing the CPN-UML in the current coalition government led by Prime Minister Dahal have resigned en masse.

In a recent twist of events, the UML decided to forge a new alliance with the Nepali Congress and recalled its ministers from the cabinet.

All the ministers representing the UML reached the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday evening to inform PM Dahal about the party's decision to withdraw support.

As per the party’s decision, UML ministers submitted their collective resignation to Prime Minister Dahal.

The UML secretariat meeting chaired by Oli on Tuesday had urged Prime Minister Dahal to resign from his post within 24 hours to pave the way for a new government. After Prime Minister Dahal did not resign within the deadline, all UML ministers submitted their resignation collectively to Dahal on Wednesday afternoon.

Party chair Oli had also sent a letter to Prime Minister Dahal withdrawing his party's support to the government, saying that the initiative to form a new government was taken with the aim of providing political stability with the formation of a government of national consensus.

The CPN (UML) has also invited political parties represented in the Parliament to join the next government of 'national consensus'.    

The party’s secretariat meeting held at the party office, Chyasal, on Wednesday decided to call upon parties to join the government of national consensus that will be formed under the leadership of UML Chair KP Sharma Oli in accordance with the agreement reached with the Nepali Congress.    

Meanwhile, the meeting also requested Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to pave the way for the formation of consensus government according to Article 76 (2) of the Constitution, said UML secretary Yogesh Bhattarai. -- RSS