Koshi Chief Minister Karki to take floor test on Saturday

ITAHARI: Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki is taking a floor test on Saturday.

Karki, who was appointed chief Minister on September 8 as per Article 168 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal following a Supreme Court mandamus, must take a vote of confidence from the Koshi Province Assembly within 30 days.

The Koshi Province Assembly convened its fourth session on Wednesday for the purpose of a vote of confidence.

“Chief Minister Karki is preparing to take the floor test on October 7,” Rebati Raman Bhandari, the chief whip of CPN-UML in Koshi Province Assembly, said.

Karki must get the support of 47 members in the 93-member province assembly to continue as the Chief Minister. UML has 40 members in the province assembly including Deputy Speaker Sirjana Danuwar.  UML’s ally, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which has six members, has already stated that it won’t give a confidence vote to Karki. The opposition camps of four parties – Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist) and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) – together have 47 members.