KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli is facing growing pressure after Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki refused to back down from his stance that he will not resign. Oli has been insisting on replacing Karki with Til Kumar Menyangbo of Taplejung, but the effort has so far failed, prompting him to convene another meeting with provincial party leaders.
On Tuesday, Oli and Karki held a one-on-one discussion for about an hour at Oli’s residence in Gundu. Although Oli did not directly ask Karki to resign, he urged him to “understand the situation,” after which Karki presented his position in detail.

Karki argued that the Koshi provincial government was formed under Article 168(5) of the Constitution and that his resignation could create a constitutional complication. He told Oli that lawmakers had voted for him voluntarily, meaning the party whip would not automatically apply. He also maintained that a change in the parliamentary party leader does not require him to resign as chief minister.

According to leaders close to Karki, he told Oli that some elements were trying to undermine him and asked the party chairman to understand that reality. He said he had supported Oli during previous political crises and urged him not to push for another chief minister when only a short period remained in the current term.

Sources said Oli remained largely silent during the discussion and did not explicitly say that Karki must resign or that another person would be brought in.

After Karki refused to step down, Oli called another meeting with provincial office bearers and Karki for Wednesday afternoon. Oli has also informed Karki that former chief minister Sherdhan Rai had gone to Biratnagar carrying his message and had been discussing the issue with provincial lawmakers.

While Oli has not publicly demanded Karki’s resignation, party leaders including provincial chairman Ghanshyam Khatiwada and in-charge Sherdhan Rai have been trying to persuade him to make way for another leader. Rai says party instructions must be followed and argues that other leaders should also get an opportunity rather than the same person being given repeated chances.
Karki, however, insists that he will not withdraw from his position without an official decision of the UML secretariat. He says he is ready to accept a formal party decision but will not step aside on the basis of verbal pressure. The dispute has intensified internal tensions within the UML’s Koshi organization and has become a test of Oli’s authority in the province.