Province 1: CM Acharya loses majority as 10 UML lawmakers join CPN (US)

BIRATNAGAR: The Chief Minister (CM) of Province 1, Bhim Acharya has lost the majority in the provincial assembly as 11 lawmakers of the CPN-UML joined the newly formed CPM (Unified Socialist).

Acharya, who was said to be an ally of the then senior leader of UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal,  was appointed the CM of the province after Sher Dhan Rai, the outgoing CM, resigned from his post.

However, due to the split in the UML, Acharya is very much likely to lose his majority in the provincial assembly. Of 92 members in the provincial assembly, 51 were members of CPN-UML before the party split. But, as UML lawmakers are preparing to officially join the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist), the size of the UML in the assembly is likely to decline.

The Election Commission (EC) has extended the deadline for those people’s representatives of local units and provinces of UML and Janata Samajbadi Party to join the new parties by 5 PM, September 7, next month.

Ten lawmakers of UML in Province 1 have so far joined the CPN (US), meaning CM Acharya lost the majority in the assembly

Meanwhile, the chief minister is also preparing to take a vote of confidence later as the UML split. Acharya needs to garner the support of at least 47 lawmakers to win a trust vote.