DHANGADI, FEBRUARY 24

Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah has intensified attempts to secure confidence vote as the deadline for the same nears. After the previous government failed to secure mandatory trust vote leading to its downfall, Nepali Congress' Shah, in capacity of the parliamentary party leader of the largest party in the provincial assembly, had, by default, become the chief minister.

It is important to note that though Shah, on the day of his accession itself, had said he would soon seek confidence vote, thus far there are no clear signs of him being able to muster such a vote.

Nor has he set any date for the same purpose till now. As per the constitutional provision, Shah is mandated to secure a confidence vote by March 9. But, many suspect he will be able to garner the trust vote, citing the lack of any fundamental change in the previous scenario that led to former government's failure.

Of late, Shah is said to have intensified his attempts to take Nagarik Unmukti Party into confidence. On Wednesday, he called on Resham Chaudhary of Nagarik Unmukti Party in Dillibazaar prison, urging him for support.

As learnt, Chaudhary, in the meeting, refused to cooperate.

The previous government led by CPN-UML had also failed as the party had refused to support the then government with its vote. Nagarik Unmukti Party central member and MP Gangaram Chaudhary said his party would not give trust vote to anyone until its leader Resham Chaudhary and others implicated over the Tikapur incident were released.

The chief minister of the 53-strong Provincial Assembly in Sudurpaschim needs the support of 27 members of Provincial Assembly to security majority. While NC has 19 seats here and CPN (Unified Socialist) has four seats.

Now the ruling side has a total of 24 seats, including the support of an independent PA member. Thus, it needs the support of three more PA members to secure majority.

NUP has seven seats in the Provincial Assembly.

Meanwhile, the chief minister is said to be hopeful to receive CPN-MC's support.

The party, however, is said to be against giving confidence vote to the current government, identifying itself as the opposition. CPN-MC has 11 seats in the PA, CPN-UML 10 seats and Rastriya Prajatantra Party one seat.

The government needs the support of either NUP or CPN-MC for winning the confidence vote.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 25, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.