Kathmandu, Aug 19: The chief ministers of Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces are set to seek votes of confidence from their respective provincial assemblies today, with both leaders relying on CPN UML support to remain in office.
In Karnali, Chief Minister Mangal Bahadur Shahi is scheduled to seek the assembly’s confidence after registering a letter to that effect on Monday. Shahi was appointed chief minister on August 12 with the support of the CPN UML.
The formation of his Cabinet has been delayed due to differences between the two coalition partners over the allocation of ministries. Shahi has said he will expand the Cabinet after securing the vote of confidence.
The 40-member Karnali Provincial Assembly has 14 members from the Nepali Communist Party and 10 from the CPN UML.
In Sudurpashchim, Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatt will seek a vote of confidence at a provincial assembly meeting scheduled for 1 pm today.
Bhatt was appointed chief minister on August 14 under Article 168 (2) of the Constitution and is constitutionally required to secure a vote of confidence within 30 days of his appointment. Province Assembly Secretariat Secretary Dev Bahadur Bogati said Bhatt requested the secretariat on Tuesday to arrange the meeting for the confidence vote.
Bhatt will table the confidence motion, after which provincial lawmakers will debate it before voting. He was appointed with the support of the CPN UML and plans to expand his Cabinet after securing the vote.
The 10-member Sudurpashchim Cabinet is supposed to comprise seven ministers and two state ministers besides the chief minister. Only three ministers and one state minister are currently serving. Bhatt is also handling four ministerial portfolios: Internal Affairs and Law, Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, and Physical Infrastructure Development.
The Sudurpashchim Assembly has 22 members from the Nepali Communist Party, 18 from the Nepali Congress, 11 from the CPN UML and one from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
People’s News Monitoring Service
Login to add a comment