Himal Press 
Uddhab Thapa
KATHMANDU: The main opposition party, CPN-UML, has filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court, arguing that Koshi Province Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa obtained a vote of confidence by violating the constitution.
UML’s parliamentary party leader in Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, and Chief Whip Rebati Raman Bhandari registered the petition.
UML moved the apex court after Israil Mansuri, an assembly member of the Nepali Congress (NC) who was presiding over the House session in the capacity of Speaker, voted in favor of Chief Minister Thapa on Monday. Following the vote, Mansuri declared that Chief Minister Thapa had successfully passed the floor test.
In their petition, the CPN-UML has requested the Supreme Court to nullify the vote of confidence obtained by Chief Minister Thapa through the vote of Mansuri.
Earlier, on July 27, the Supreme Court invalidated Thapa’s appointment as Chief Minister, ruling Speaker Babu Ram Gautam’s support to form government as unconstitutional.
Since Thapa only had the backing of 46 assembly members, one short of the required majority of 47, the four-party ruling coalition asked Speaker Gautam to support Thapa’s claim to form government. Gautam extended his support to Thapa and Province Chief Parshuram Khapung appointed subsequently appointed him as the Chief Minister.
However, the apex court ruled that the Speaker must remain neutral and refrain from taking sides. This left the coalition with no option but to make Speaker Gautam resign from his post. Gautam resigned and Thapa was subsequently appointed as Chief Minister on August 1.
