POKHARA: Chief Minister of Gandaki State Krishna Chandra Nepali Pakharel has secured a vote of confidence in State Assembly.
Chief Minister Pakharel had tabled a motion in the State Assembly on Friday seeking a vote of confidence. Speaker Netra Nath Adhikari informed that Nepali received 31 votes. Similarly, 27 votes have been cast against the vote of confidence. There were 59 MPs present in the State Assembly, including the speaker. Out of it, 58 MPs voted for and against.
Pokharel, who was appointed as the Chief Minister on June 12, has asked for a vote of confidence as per the provision of a vote of confidence within a month. State Chief Sita Kumari Poudel had appointed Pokhrel as the Chief Minister in accordance with Article 168 (5) of the Constitution.
The process of forming the government was moved forward after former Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung failed to garner a vote of confidence. Pokhrel became the Chief Minister with the support of the Nepali Congress, the UCPN (Maoist Centre), the Rastriya Janamorcha and the Janata Samajbadi Party.
After the Supreme Court rejected the post of Janamorcha MP Krishna Thapa, the number of MPs in the House remained 59. In the State Assembly Nepali Congress have 15 members, 11 members of the UCPN (Maoist Centre) (excluding the Speaker), 2/2 of the Janamorcha and JSP and independent MP Deepak Manange.
