Chief Minister (CM) of Province 5 Shankar Pokharel, who convinced CPN Chairmen KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal to transfer provincial capital to Deukhuri, Dang, has not gone for the provincial parliamentary party meeting called in protest against the decision.
Provincial ministers and Chief Whip of CPN Bhumishwore Dhakal have also not reached the parliamentary party office. Just 20 out of the 61 CPN lawmakers in the province have gone for the meeting which has not started in absence of the majority of lawmakers.
The meeting was set to start at seven in the morning but has yet to start.
CPN lawmaker from Rupandehi Bhoj Prasad Shrestha said provincial capital should not be decided on the basis of a closed-door meeting of a few persons.
Fourteen CPN lawmakers are against the decision to make Deukhuri the permanent capital instead of Butwal which is the temporary capital now. The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has also opposed the decision.
The provincial government has already registered the proposal to name the province Lumbini and make Deukhuri, Dang its capital in the provincial assembly.
The provincial assembly meeting will start at noon to discuss the proposal.
