KATHMANDU: CPN Unified Socialist’s Rajendra Pandey has staked a claim for the post of Chief Minister of Bagmati Province.

Pandey, with the support of 59 lawmakers from the ruling coalition, registered his claim to Province Chief Yadav Chandra Sharma Wednesday evening.

Sharma had called on the members of the state assembly to submit their claims for the Chief Minister by 3 pm on Thursday in support of two or more parties.

The coalition has submitted the signatures of 59 provincial lawmakers out of the 56 lawmakers required for a majority in the 110-member state assembly.

Among them, 23 are from the Maoist Center, 22 from the Nepali Congress, 13 from the Unified Socialist Party and one from the Janata Samajbadi Party.

Sources said that the swearing-in ceremony has been scheduled for 3:15 pm on Thursday.

Chief Minister Asha Laxmi Shakya had announced her resignation in the state assembly on Wednesday.