KATHMANDU: Khagaraj Adhikari, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, has successfully obtained a vote of confidence.

In the confidence vote, 30 lawmakers supported CM Adhikari, while 27 voted against him, with two remaining neutral.

A total of 59 lawmakers participated in the vote.

Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital emphasized that a majority of 31 votes out of the 60-member provincial assembly is required to win a vote of confidence and Speaker can cast a decisive vote in accordance with the constitution.

He declared that CM Adhikari secured the necessary confidence vote with his decisive vote.

Following the announcement, lawmakers from the Nepali Congress staged a protest.

Adhikari’s appointment to the post, as per Article 168(2) of the Constitution of Nepal, garnered support from 22 UML lawmakers, seven from the Maoist Center, and independent lawmaker Deepak Manange.

The Nepali Congress had filed a writ petition against Adhikari’s appointment, arguing that his claim to the post with support from the Speaker was invalid.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition, ruling that Adhikari had the support of the majority of lawmakers, excluding the Speaker’s vote.