POKHARA: The opposition alliance comprising Nepali Congress (NC), CPN (Maoist Center), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) and Rastriya Janamorcha (RJM) is making preparations to stake its claim to form a new government in Lumbini Province today.

Lumbini Province Chief Amik Sherchan had given 22 hours’ time to the political parties to claim for a new majority government. After the resignation of Chief Minister Shankar Pokharel, Province Chief Sherchan had given time till 3 pm today (August 12) to form a majority government.

The opposition alliance has fielded Maoist Center leader Kulprasad KC alias Sonam as the new Chief Minister.

NC and Maoist Center have agreed to lead the provincial government in turns, each one taking the helm of the government for eight months. KC has been fielded as the Chief Minister for the initial eight months as per this agreement.

A special session of the Provincial Assembly had been summoned to debate on the no confidence motion against Chief Minister Shankar Pokhrel on Wednesday.

Province Chief Sherchan called on the opposition parties to submit a majority claim to form a new government after CM Pokharel stepped down amidst the deliberation on the no confidence motion yesterday.

Currently, there are 80 lawmakers in the Province. Of them, 19 lawmakers belong to NC, 18 belong to Maoist Center and three belong to JSP and one belong to RJM.

Earlier in April, the Chief Minister Shankar Pokharel had lost the majority in the Province Assembly after Maoist Center lawmakers withdrew their support from the government. The opposition parties had then filed a no-confidence motion against CM Pokharel.