Gandaki CM Pokharel taking trust vote today

POKHARA, June 18: Newly appointed chief minister of Gandaki Province, Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel is taking a trust vote from the provincial assembly on Friday, six days after he was appointed as the executive head of the province. 

According to Gandaki Government Spokesperson Kumar Khadka, CM Pokharel is scheduled to go for the floor test at 11 AM today. 

Gandaki Province Chief Sita Kumari Poudel appointed Pokharel the chief minister on June 12 as per the Article 168 (5) of the constitution. 

Pokharel is required to win a confidence motion within the 30 days of the date of his appointment as per Article 168 (6) to remain intact as the executive head of the province. 

He had staked claim for the government with the support of 31 members of the 60-member Gandaki Province Assembly. Along with the NC’s 15, CPN (Maoist Center)’s 11, Rastriya Janamorcha (RJM)’s 2 of 3 and 2 of Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) signed in the letter, submitted to Province Chief Poudel, to support Pokharel as the new chief minister. Similarly, an independent lawmaker also extended his support to CM Pokharel.   As many as 31 provincial assembly members including Nepali reached the Office of Province Chief in person and submitted the claim on Friday. 

Former Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung was relieved of his position after losing a trust motion on June 10. Gurung, who was reappointed on May 12 as the leader of the largest political party in the province was required to obtain a vote from the province assembly within 30 days of his appointment as the chief minister as per the Article 167 (4) of the Constitution of Nepal. 

Gurung, who should garner at least 31 votes to win the trust motion, received only 27 votes. Thirty other members voted against him, while one member opted to stay neutral. Similarly, one other member abstained from voting, according to Netra Nath Adhikari, Speaker of the assembly.