Kathmandu: CPN-UML has decided to withdraw from the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government in Nepal.

After withdrawing support, it was decided in the party’s secretariat meeting held on Monday morning to withdraw from the government.

This decision has been taken after the change in the political equations as the presidential election is going to be held on March 9.

The party’s decision came after Dahal decided to join hands with the Nepali Congress, CPN (Unified Socialist) and Janata Samajwadi Party in an attempt to revive the then ruling coalition formed under the leadership of former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Sher. Bahadur Deuba in the upcoming presidential election.

Relations between the UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) deteriorated after the Maoist Center, headed by Prasanda, decided to support the presidential candidate of the Nepali Congress.

The Nepali Congress was earlier in opposition, but as relations between UML’s Oli and Prasanda deteriorated, the Maoist Center decided to sever its ties with the UML and joined hands with the UML on 24 February.

On February 25, the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party withdrew from the current government. With this decision, the Dahal-led government will form an alliance with the Nepali Congress.

Apart from the Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre), six other parties have supported Nepali Congress’s presidential candidate, Ram Chandra Baudel.

The UML had earlier decided to wait till the presidential election before taking a final call on whether to quit the government or not.

UML vice-president Bishnu Paudel said the meeting was decided to quit the government after the prime minister “started working in a different style”.