DHANGADHI: Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta has secured a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly, with 31 lawmakers voting in his favor.
Bhatta, who was appointed chief minister last week, sought the vote of confidence on Wednesday and received the required support from a majority of the provincial assembly. Of the 31 lawmakers who voted in favor, 11 were from the CPN-UML and 20 were from the Nepali Communist Party (NCP).
Among the 20 Maoist Centre lawmakers, 10 supported Bhatta, along with seven lawmakers from the former Nagarik Unmukti Party and three lawmakers from the former Unified Socialist, excluding suspended members.
The Nepali Congress and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) voted against the chief minister. Fourteen Congress lawmakers and one RPP lawmaker voted against the motion. Nepali Congress lawmakers Padam Shahi and Man Bahadur Rawal, along with RPP lawmaker Madhu Bharti, were absent from the vote.
The 51-member provincial assembly currently has several vacant and suspended positions. Tara Joshi, who was elected from Dadeldhura, resigned to contest the House of Representatives election. The seat held by Prakash Deuba of Kailali has also become vacant, while another Kailali lawmaker, Dirgha Sodari, has been suspended.
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