Gandaki Chief Minister fails to get vote of confidence

Pokhara, April 22 : Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Khagaraj Adhikari failed to garner a vote of confidence. As Adhikari failed to get the vote of confidence, a new government would be formed in the province as per the Article 168 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal.     

In a vote of confidence motion tabled in a meeting of the Gandaki Province Assembly on Saturday, Chief Minister Adhikari's motion was rejected with majority of votes.     

Adhikari got 24 votes while 35 votes were cast against him.     

CPN (UML) had 22 lawmakers and Rastriya Prajatantra Party 2 to back Adhikari, while 27 province assembly members of Nepali Congress, seven of CPN (Maoist Centre) and one independent lawmaker voted against Adhikari.     

In the 60-member Gandaki Province Assembly, the CPN (Maoist Centre) has eight lawmakers including the Speaker of the Province Assembly.     

Earlier, Adhikari had lost his majority after the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) withdrew its support from the government on March 24.     

He took the vote of confidence from the province assembly as there is a constitutional provision that the vote of confidence should be taken within 30 days after political parties partnering in the government withdrew support. (RSS)