Uddhav Thapa appointed as Koshi Province Chief Minister

BIRATNAGAR: Uddhav Thapa, the parliamentary party leader of Nepali Congress (NC) in Koshi province, has been reappointed as the Chief Minister of Koshi Province.

The appointment was made by Province Chief Parashuram Khapung on Tuesday.

Thapa returns to the position of Chief Minister for the second time, following his previous dismissal within 22 days due to concerns over the government’s formation using the Speaker’s signature.

To secure the post of Chief Minister, Thapa garnered the support of various parties, including NC, CPN-Maoist Center, CPN-Unified Socialist Party, and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), under the provisions of Clause 2 of Article 168 of the Constitution.

A total of 29 lawmakers from NC, 13 from Maoist Center, 4 from Unified Socialist Party, and 1 from JSP extended their support to Thapa’s candidacy.

Previously, Speaker Baburam Gautam had endorsed the claim submitted for the Chief Minister’s position but signed as a Maoist Center lawmaker since he had resigned from the post on Tuesday afternoon.

With Gautam’s resignation from the position of Speaker, the ruling alliance now holds a majority with the support of 47 lawmakers, facilitating Uddhav Thapa’s reappointment as the Chief Minister of Koshi Province.