LUMBINI: Nepali Congress ministers in the UML-led Lumbini government are preparing to resign after the UML and NCP formalized a power-sharing agreement across all seven provinces.

The Congress had decided last month to end its alliance with the UML but had not immediately withdrawn its ministers from the Lumbini government. The latest agreement between the two communist parties has now paved the way for their exit.

All five Congress ministers are expected to submit their resignations. They include Saroj Thapa, Dhanendra Karki, Prachanda Bikram Neupane, Janmajay Timilsina, and Dev Karan Kalwar.

The new UML-NCP alliance is expected to retain a majority in the Provincial Assembly. In the 83-member House, the UML has 29 seats and the NCP holds 13, including the Speaker, with the coalition also expecting support from an independent lawmaker.

Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya currently heads the 12-member provincial government. The coalition has also indicated plans to reduce the number of ministries to eight.