KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Sudurpaschim Provincial Committee has sought clarification from 17 Provincial Assembly (PA) members of Madhav Kumar Nepal faction of the party on Thursday.

The provincial committee asked its 17 PA members to submit 24-hour explanation for providing trust vote to Chief Minister Trilochan Bhatt against the party’s directive.

UML Sudurpaschim Secretary Rajendra Rawal said clarification has been sought from the 17 lawmakers, including UML parliamentary party (PP) leader Prakash Bahadur Shah.

UML PP going against central command of the party had decided to provide vote of confidence to Maoist-led government in the province.

After CM Bhatta’s vote of confidence, UML PP leader Sha had sought explanation from 7 PA members, aligning with party Chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, for not voting as determined by the PP. The 7 PA members submitted their explanation to Shah Wednesday.

The UML PP in the province is dominated by leaders from Nepal faction and the Provincial Committee has leaders of PM Oli faction.