Janakpur, Nov. 5 -- Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has stepped in to save his party's government in Madhesh Province, holding talks with CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli as Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav faces a deadline to seek a vote of confidence.

Thapa visited Oli's residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, on Tuesday night and spoke with him in private, sources said. He argued that changing the government with only a year left in the provincial assembly's term would send a poor message, urging Oli to restore the coalition.

The government was thrown into crisis after the UML withdrew its support and recalled all four ministers on October 16. The party accused the Congress-led coalition of failing to implement a 15-point agreement. Yadav...