By Our Reporter
Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey has succeeded in winning a vote of confidence in a dramatic political development.
Until a few days ago, it looked impossible for CM Pandey to prove his majority in the 60-member Provincial Assembly after he was appointed per an order of the Supreme Court which nullified the vote of confidence received by UML’s Khagraj Adhikari as Chief Minister.
But on Monday, Pandey won the vote of confidence by securing 31 votes in his favour thanks to a floor crossing by Assembly member Phadindra Devkota, elected from the Nepal Socialist Party (NSP) of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai with the election symbol of the CPN (Maoist Centre).
Interestingly, Devkota is elected from Gorkha from where CM Pandey is also elected. However, it is uncertain whether Devkota will lose the post of the Assembly Member for saving the Pandey-led government. However, Pandey rewarded him by appointing him minister on Tuesday.
Pandey secured the vote of confidence with the backing of 27 members from the ruling Nepali Congress, two members from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and independent Assembly members Deepak Manange and Devkota. Opposition to the vote included 22 from UML and six from Maoist Center.
During the vote, opposition Assembly members attempted to prevent Devkota from crossing the floor, but in vain. Now the Maoist Centre is claiming that it would take action against Devkota for he had won the election from its poll symbol.
No matter whether Devkota faces any action, the successful attempt of CM Pandey to secure the vote of confidence in Gandaki has come as a threat to the government in the centre.
At a time when Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is trying to save his coalition by inducting ministers from tiny parties like the Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party in the centre by recalling some ministers from the CPN (UML) and the Maoist Centre, the UML is reluctant to recall its ministers.
Moreover, the Nagarik Unmukti Party is on the brink of split because of a dispute between Resham Chaudhary and his spouse …Shrestha, and if the party breaks as stipulated, the plan of the PM to induct ministers from the party will face a setback.
Similarly, if the Supreme Court makes the split of the Janata Samajwadi Party (Nepal) unconstitutional, at least seven of its lawmakers will lose their position as lawmakers, which will further invite crisis to the Dahal-led government. Although PM Dahal and CPN-UML boss Oli managed to woo the Janamat party by offering it the Chief Minister in Madhes, Madhav Kumar Nepal of the CPN (Unified Socialist) is not happy with the present coalition. If a circumstance arises, in which Nepal is offered the position of Prime Minister by the NC, the Dahal-led government can collapse at any time.
Maybe, PM Dahal during his recent visit to India got instruction from the Indian leaders to change the coalition again as the Indian leaders are not happy with Oli, he might be waiting for a suitable time to again shift the coalition. Only time will tell because Dahal has already announced that he will invite ups and downs in Nepal’s politics at any time.
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