POKHARA: Gandaki Chief Minister Khagaraj Adhikari is preparing to step down on April 22 by convening a session of the State Assembly.

A meeting of the Gandaki State Assembly has been called on April 22 — the last day of the deadline for Adhikari — to take a vote of confidence within one month.

The Maoist Center withdrew support from the CPN-UML government after the presidential election changed the balance of power at the Center.

There is a constitutional obligation to take a vote of confidence within one month after a ruling power partner withdraws its support to the government.

As the largest party in the Gandaki Province, Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Surendra Raj is likely to become the Chief Minister with the support of the Maoist Center party.

Nepali Congress has 27 lawmakers in the Gandaki Province which has a total of 60 provincial assembly members.

The Maoist Center has eight MPs, which means that the NC can form a majority government in the province.