Gandaki Province Chief appointing Pokharel as CM today

KATHMANDU: The opposition alliance is likely to form a new government in Gandaki Pradesh today.

Following the call of the Province Chief Sita Kumari Paudel, Nepali Congress (NC) Parliamentary Party leader Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel with the support of 31 provincial members staked a claim to the post of the Chief Minister on Friday itself.

Nepali has the support of 15 lawmakers of the NC, 11 of the CPN (Maoist Center), two of Rastriya Janamorcha (RJM), two of Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) and one independent.

Province Chief Paudel had given a deadline until 3 pm today to produce majority to stake a claim to the post of the Chief Minister.

Province Chief Paudel will appoint NC Parliamentary Party leader Pokharel at 3 pm today as per the existing provision.

Earlier, Gandaki Governor Paudel solicited claims, pursuant to Article 168 (5) of the constitution, for the appointment of a Chief Minister in the province after CM Prithvi Subba Gurung lost the Provincial Assembly’s vote of confidence on Thursday.

Pokharel turned the tables in his favor after RJM Krishna Thapa and independent lawmaker Manange extended their support to the opposition alliance.