The CPN (Unified Socialist) on Tuesday withdrew its support to Laxman Kishor Chaudhary of the Nagarik Unmukti Party.

Dirgha Sodari, provincial assembly leader of the Unified Socialist, submitted a letter to Province Head Najir Mia mentioning withdrawal of the support.

The party withdrew its support following an agreement in the five-party alliance to allocate the chief ministerial position to the party.

Two lawmakers from the Nagarik Unmukti Party on Sunday staked a claim to the post of Sudurpaschim chief minister. Provincial assembly members Kailash Kumar Chaudhary and Laxman Kishor Chaudhary presented their claims before Provincial Head Najir Miya.

Kailash staked a claim to lead a new provincial government with the support of the CPN-UML, the CPN (Maoist Centre) and independent lawmakers. Laxman laid his claim with the support of the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Unified Socialist).

Two different claims from the same party are an outcome of a longstanding dispute between the Nagarik Unmukti Party chair Ranjita Shrestha and her husband Reshamlal Chaudhary.

Laxman is from the Reshamlal-led faction while Kailash belongs to the establishment faction. Of the seven Nagarik Unmukti members in the provincial assembly, five are close to party leader Reshamlal and two are close to the Shrestha-led camp.

Sodari, the provincial assembly member of the Unified Socialist, is now preparing to stake a claim for the chief minister with the support of the UML, the Maoist Centre and independent lawmakers.