Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The ruling coalition has decided to make a claim for government formation in Koshi Province under the leadership of Uddhab Thapa of Nepali Congress.
A meeting of the coalition held at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar decided to field Thapa as the common candidate of the ruling coalition for the position.
Both NC and CPN (Maoist Center) had been laying their claim for the post.
“The ruling coalition has decided to form a coalition government in Koshi Province under the leadership of Thapa,” Rajendra Pandey of CPN (Unified Socialist) said. “Discussions on sharing of ministerial portfolios will follow soon.”
The Province Chief has given parties in the Koshi Province Assembly until July 6 to make a claim for the government formation as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal.
Both the NC-Maoist Center ruling coalition and opposition parties have an equal number of seats (46) in the Koshi Province Assembly. UML, the largest party in the provincial assembly, has 40 seats, while its ally, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has six. Similarly, Nepali Congress (NC) has 29 seats, the Maoist Center has 13 (including the Speaker), the CPN (Unified Socialist) has four, and the JSP has one, or a combined 46 seats. Unless the ruling coalition secures the support of the RPP, it will not be able to reach the required majority of 47 seats to make a claim for government formation in the 93-member Koshi Province Assembly.
