KATHMANDU: Leaders of five political parties have submitted a claim to form a new government in Madhesh Province under the leadership of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) leader Jitendra Sonal.

The claim, submitted to the Office of the Provincial Chief, carries the signatures of 56 provincial assembly members, reflecting a clear majority.

The move follows the resignation of Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh of the Janamat Party on Tuesday.

After his resignation, Province Chief Sumitra Bhandari Subedi had called on political parties to submit a claim to form a government by 4 PM on October 15.

Late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, leaders of LSP, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal, Janamat Party,

CPN (Maoist Centre), and CPN (Unified Socialist) held discussions and reached an agreement to form the government under Sonal’s leadership.

While the leadership issue has been settled, the allocation of ministerial portfolios among coalition partners is yet to be finalized.