Indra Bahadur Baniya to be appointed new Bagmati CM

KATHMANDU: The long-standing political dispute within Bagmati Province has finally come to an end as Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama resigns following internal conflict within the Nepali Congress.

Indra Bahadur Baniya, Chair of the Nepali Congress Bagmati Province and parliamentary party leader, is set to take over as the new Chief Minister.

Baniya, a seasoned politician with nearly four decades of experience, hails from Harnamadi, Makwanpur, and began his political journey in 2044 BS through student politics.

He has served as a Constituent Assembly member and State Minister, and now steps into the top leadership role in Bagmati Province.

Lama, who took office on Shrawan 8, 2081 BS, had led the provincial government under a power-sharing agreement between the Nepali Congress and the UML, which stipulated a 20–20 month leadership rotation.

However, internal disagreements within the Congress—especially concerning the upcoming budget and governance performance—led to a major rift.

Baniya’s faction accused Lama of weak leadership and began maneuvering to shift the power balance. Ultimately, 22 Congress MPs voted against Lama in the parliamentary party, removing him as leader.

Additionally, four Congress ministers resigned from the cabinet, deepening the crisis and prompting Lama to step down.

He cited political conspiracy, pressure groups, and lack of cooperation as reasons for his resignation, though he maintained that his tenure was marked by integrity and dedication.

Following Lama’s exit, Indra Bahadur Baniya was elected as the new parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress.

Under Article 168(2) of the Constitution, which allows a provincial government to be formed with the support of two or more parties, Baniya submitted his claim to the Chief Minister’s post with backing from 64 MPs—including UML members—out of the 110-member Provincial Assembly (with 56 needed for a majority).

After Lama’s formal resignation on Monday, Province Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota invited claims for the Chief Minister’s post.

Baniya submitted his claim before the 2 PM deadline today. His oath of office is scheduled for 4 PM this afternoon, followed by the cabinet expansion.

Preliminary sources confirm that the UML will hold key ministries in the new coalition government. Kiran Thapa Magar is set to return as Minister of Health; Jayaram Thapa as Minister of Labor, Employment, and Transport; Bharat Bahadur KC as Minister of Forests and Environment; Madhusudan Paudel as Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development; Dr. Dinesh Chandra Devkota as Minister of Physical Infrastructure; and Bindu Shrestha as Minister of Industry, Commerce, Land, and Administration.

While a new government is in place, the coalition’s stability hinges on continued political understanding and effective governance.

In the next eight months, Baniya faces the challenge of maintaining the Congress-UML alliance, executing the budget, and strengthening the credibility of the provincial government.

Whether this alliance under Baniya’s leadership can ensure stability in Bagmati Province remains to be seen—but its outcome could significantly influence national politics in the months ahead.