KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli-led faction of the CPN-UML has warned of taking action against its lawmakers involved in the alleged ‘floor-crossing’ against the party’s whip in Karnali Province Assembly on Friday.

Giving his initial comment after the voting in Karnali, Minister for Foreign Affairs and UML spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali described the floor-crossing as unacceptable and unjustifiable action against the party. “We noticed an anarchy in Karnali Province Assembly today,” Gyawali said, “The chaos is unforgivable.”

However, leader Gyawali did not mention what action the party would take against the UML self-willed province lawmakers.

Earlier, Karnali Province Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi had sought the vote of confidence for his government in the Province Assembly on Friday.

Prakash Jwala, Ambar Bahadur Thapa, Kurma Raj Shahi and Nanda Singh Budha from the CPN-UML’s Nepal-Khanal faction voted in favor of the motion to support CM Shahi’s government.

In the voting, 22 lawmakers including four UML, six Nepali Congress (NC) and 12 Maoist lawmakers had voted for the motion.

Fifteen lawmakers including 14 from UML and from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) had cast the vote against CM Shahi.

In the meantime, CPN-UML’s ‘floor-crossers’ have claimed that they used their conscience and voted against anarchy.

“Senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has been suspended from the Chairman Oli’s group, their action against us has no meaning,” lawmaker Ambar Thapa said, adding, ” If the party welcomes Maoist Center’s lawmakers’ not abiding the party whip, how can it take action against us for the same?”

Thapa said that irrespective of the party establishment’s warning, they would continue working for the best interest of the party and its principles.