KATHMANDU: Opposition parties including Nepali Congress (NC) are rendering efforts to file a no confidence motion against Chief Minister of Lumbini Pradesh Shankar Pokharel.
Lawmakers of NC, CPN (Maoist Center), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), Rastriya Janamorcha (RJM) have intensified a signature campaign to oust Chief Minister Pokharel through the no confidence motion.
In the 85-member province assembly, ruling CPN-UML has 41 lawmakers, NC (19), CPN (Maoist Center) (17), JSP (6) and RJM (1). Of them 42 lawmakers from NC (19), Maoist Center (17), JSP (5) and RJM (1) have signed on the no confidence motion against Pokharel.
One lawmaker of JSP Kalpana Pandey who is close to Mahantha Thakur, the central council chairman of JSP), has not signed it yet. According to JSP sources, she has not signed due to the direction from the higher committee of the party.
Her vote is indispensable to overthrow Chief Minister Pokharel.
“JSP’s one lawmaker has not signed the no confidence motion while five other lawmakers have already signed it,” said JSP Provincial Chairman Ashok Yadav, adding, “She will sign it eventually.”
Chief Minster Pokharel needs two more lawmakers to garner majority in the province assembly where the posts of two lawmakers are vacant.
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