Himal Press 
POKHARA: A coalition of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) has submitted a claim to form the government in Gandaki Province.
Leaders of UML and Maoist Center along with independent member Rajiv Gurung met with Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta on Sunday morning to submit the claim. The two parties have proposed to make the next government in the province under UML’s Khagaraj Adhikari.
The coalition’s claim includes the signature of Speaker Krishna Dhital. It has submitted signatures from 22 assembly members of UML, eight from the Maoist Center, and one independent member.
Parties need to secure the support of 31 members to form government in the 60-member Gandaki Province Assembly.
Despite a precedent set by the Supreme Court last year, which annulled a vote of confidence received by Koshi Province Chief Minister Uddhav Khakda, ruling that the Speaker cannot support government formation or dissolution, the UML-Maoist coalition has utilized the Speaker’s signature to make their claim for government formation.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has denounced the move as unconstitutional. Citing the example of Koshi Province, NC’s parliamentary party leader Surendra Jan Pandey has requested Province Chief Bhatta to refrain from forming the government through unconstitutional means.
