Political parties from southern Nepal withdrew support from the government on Thursday, weakening an already fragile administration and throwing long overdue elections further into doubt.
An alliance of parties representing the country's Madhesi ethnic minority joined the government when it formed last August on the proviso that the constitution be amended to grant them greater political representation.
But the legislation has been deadlocked in parliament for months, angering the parties.
"We had given the government a seven-day ultimatum to address our demands, but they did nothing," Laxman Lal Karna, a leader of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), told
AFHPThe office of the speaker of parliament confirmed they had received a notice of withdrawal from the Madhesi alliance.
The government had anticipated the rebellion and last week managed to cobble together enough extra support to ensure its brittle coalition retained a majority in parliament.