Kathmandu, June 18
Gandaki’s Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel has obtained the vote of confidence in the Provincial Assembly on Friday.
The constitution’s article 168.6 requires a chief minister showing that s/he can secure a majority in the provincial legislature to prove the majority in one month since the appointment. However, Pokharel had decided to prove the majority within the first week into office.
During the voting held in Pokhara on Friday, lawmakers representing his Nepali Congress and coalition partners CPN-Maoist Centre and Rastriya Janamorcha and an independent lawmaker voted in favour of him whereas his predecessor Prithvi Subba Gurung’s CPN-UML was against him.
All lawmakers except the speaker cast votes today. Pokharel secured 31 votes whereas 27 votes were cast against him.
Pokharel was certain to get the vote as he had already submitted signatures of the majority of the lawmakers of the 60-member assembly before getting the appointment.
Now, Pokharel is preparing to reshuffle his cabinet.
While assuming his office on Saturday, Pokharel has appointed four ministers but has not given them any portfolio. Therefore, the chief minister had presented the annual budget plan in the assembly on Tuesday as the financial affairs minister also.
