A prominent Maoist leader and Minister for Land Reforms Matrika Yadav resigned on Friday, a few days after he led a contingent of armed Maoist combatants in grabbing the land of political rivals in eastern Nepal’s Siraha district. Yadav tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal after protests from major political parties, including those in the ruling coalition, over Yadav’s actions. The Nepali Congress, the main Opposition party, was prepared to stall the Parliament session and not let Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai to present the annual Budget.

Yadav had led a strong team of Maoist combatants and forcibly re-occupied land restored to one Birendra Saha in Siraha on Monday. He had not only chased the police away, but also assaulted the supporters of the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) who supported the Government’s act of restoring the land to the original owner.