KATHMANDU: Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya is set to seek a vote of confidence in the Provincial Assembly today (Monday).
Chief Minister Baniya was compelled to face the floor test after CPN-UML ministers resigned from his Cabinet and the party withdrew its support, leaving his government in the minority.
Under the constitutional provision, a chief minister who loses majority support must secure a vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly within 30 days. If Baniya secures the required majority, his government will continue in office. However, failure to win the confidence vote will result in his removal as chief minister.
The Bagmati Provincial Assembly has 104 members, meaning the government needs the support of at least 53 lawmakers to secure a majority. The Nepali Congress has 36 seats, while its coalition partner, the Hamro Nepali Party (Hanepa), has two seats, taking their combined strength to 38.
With 15 additional votes needed to reach the majority threshold, the Nepali Congress has begun discussions with parties other than the CPN-UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP).
The Nepali Congress is particularly seeking support from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which has 12 lawmakers, and the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), which has three. Securing the backing of both parties would give the Congress-led government the 53 votes required to survive the floor test.
The RPP and NWPP have emerged as key players in determining the outcome of the confidence vote. Both parties have indicated that they are not interested in joining the government, but neither has made a final decision on whether to support Baniya in the floor test.
The RPP has already decided against joining the government for now. However, it remains unclear whether the party will support the Congress-led government or back an alternative coalition during the confidence vote.
RPP President Rajendra Lingden has said the party will take a decision based on the province’s needs and circumstances. However, the party’s Bagmati lawmakers have yet to receive any formal instruction on the matter.
The situation is similar for the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), which has remained in opposition since the formation of the Bagmati provincial government. The party has shown no indication that it intends to join the government or accept ministerial positions this time either.
However, the NWPP has not completely ruled out playing a role in the government formation process. Surendra Raj Gosai, leader of the NWPP parliamentary party in Bagmati, said the party could consider cooperation if past shortcomings are addressed and a government that is people-oriented and reflects public aspirations is formed.
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