Himal Press 
POKHARA: CPN-UML has decided to quit the Gandaki Province Government. According to party sources, Chief Minister Khagaraj Adhikari is planning to resign on April 24.
Adhikari’s government is now in the minority after the CPN (Maoist Center) formed a new coalition with the Nepali Congress (NC). Two Maoist Center ministers in the province government tendered their resignation on March 24.
According to the constitution, Adhikari must take a vote of confidence within a month of losing support. This means he must seek a vote of confidence by April 24. However, since he is unlikely to pass the floor test, he has decided to step down, as per party sources.
Suman Ghimire, the press adviser to Adhikari, said, “Most likely, Chief Minister Adhikari will step down after addressing the province assembly.”
Province Chief Prithvi Man Gurung has summoned the house session for April 24.
The Nepali Congress is the largest party in the 60-member Gandaki Province Assembly, with 27 seats. The UML has 22, the Maoist Center has eight, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has two, and the CPN (Unified Socialist) has one member in the province assembly.
One needs the support of 31 assembly members to become Chief Minister in Gandaki. Adhikari is unlikely to win the support.
Either the NC or the Maoist Center will lead the government in the Gandaki Province after Adhikari steps down. Both Surendra Raj Pandey of the NC and Hari Bahadur Chuman are eyeing the top posts of the province government.
