Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Chief Minister of Madhesh Province, Saroj Yadav, has said that he accepted the post not out of personal desire but due to constitutional obligation.
Speaking with reporters in Janakpurdham on Monday amid controversy surrounding his appointment, Yadav said the Province Chief appointed him as per the constitution after consulting legal experts. “Former Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal had already sought a vote of confidence in the Provincial Assembly. The Speaker had even initiated the process of division of votes,” Yadav said. “When it became clear that he lacked the numbers to win the confidence vote, he announced his resignation. Since the process under Article 168 (2) could no longer continue, the Province Chief, after legal consultation, appointed me, as the leader of the largest party in the province assembly, under Article 168 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015.”
Yadav argued that, unlike Janamat Party’s Satish Kumar Singh, who became chief minister after his predecessor resigned before the voting process, Sonal resigned during the confidence vote. “Singh resigned before the vote division process began,” Yadav explained. “But Sonal had already sought a vote of confidence from the rostrum, and the process was underway. When he realized he would not secure enough votes, he announced his resignation. These are two different scenarios.”
Yadav reiterated that assuming the position of Chief Minister was not his personal ambition. “Article 168 (3) requires the Province Chief to appoint the parliamentary party leader of the largest party in the Provincial Assembly as the Chief Minister. I was appointed under that provision. I have no personal desire for this position,” he said.
The UML leader insisted that the oath of office was administered at a hotel in Bardibas, not at the provincial capital, Janakpurdham, because the Province Chief had to travel to Kathmandu.
Yadav said that although some political parties appeared dissatisfied for now, the situation would soon stabilize. “Some colleagues are angry at the moment. We have already spoken with leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Janamat Party. They have assured us of cooperation,” he said. “They are currently in Kathmandu. We will talk again once they return.”
The new Chief Minister said he plans to assume office within a day or two, as the Office of the Chief Minister has been vandalized.
