KATHMANDU: Making it difficult for the Nepali Congress (NC) led opposition parties to form a new government in Gandaki Province, Rastriya Janamorcha lawmaker Khim Bikram Shahi has refused to abide by the party whip.
Issuing a statement on Wednesday, Rastriya Janamorcha lawmaker Shahi has clarified that he has not signed in the letter proposing NC leader as the Chief Minister.
“I have not signed any document proposing NC led government formation in Gandaki Province,” lawmaker Shahi said, adding, “I want to clarify that I am not in any alliance so far.”
Earlier, parliamentary party (PP) leader of Janamorcha Krishna Thapa had refused to abide by the party whip to sign in the document to propose NC PP leader Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokhrel as the Chief Minister of the province.
When the party leaders were waiting him for signature, Thapa had informed he has already reached Baglung.
Few days back, the voting on no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung had to be delayed as Janamorcha lawmaker Shahi, supposed to vote against Gurung, had disappeared all of sudden.
Later he was found undergoing coronavirus treatment in a private hospital though his swab tested in the public hospital had shown him coronavirus negative.
Later, Shahi had issued a statement and reiterated that he would stick to the party’s decision.
Out of 60 member Province Assembly in Gandaki, ruling CPN-UML has 28 lawmakers on its side. The opposition alliance comprising NC, CPN-Maoist Center and Janata Samajbadi Party make 28 lawmakers on their camp as well.
Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal which has three lawmakers in the assembly has thus become a kingmaker in the province.
However, by challenging the directions of party center, the Janamorcha lawmakers are likely to face disciplinary action which might reduce the number of lawmakers in the assembly.
The apparent mess in Janamorcha has resulted in Prithvi Subba Gurung’s reappointment Chief Minister of the province.
Newly appointed CM Gurung has to get the vote of confidence from the province assembly within 30 days which might again repeat the same show as in these days.
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