Biratnagar, Aug. 19 -- The Nepali Congress has withdrawn its support for the Koshi provincial government, putting further pressure on Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki as he faces the prospect of having to seek a fresh vote of confidence.

A meeting of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party in Koshi on Wednesday decided to withdraw support for the government led by Karki.

The party sent a formal letter to the Koshi Provincial Assembly Secretariat while the parliamentary party meeting was still underway, provincial assembly secretary Sudarshan Khadka said. The Congress has also informed the assembly that its lawmakers will now sit on the opposition benches.

The Congress has 29 lawmakers in the 93-member provincial assembly. Its withdraw...