NSP’s Devkota defends decision to cross floor

KATHMANDU: Gandaki Province Assembly Member Fanindra Devkota of the Nepal Samajbadi Party (NSP) has defended his decision to support the motion of vote of confidence tabled by Surendra Raj Pandey of Nepali Congress (NC).

Devkota’s vote was crucial as Pandey secured a vote of confidence in the province assembly on Monday. He received 31 votes which is the required number to form government in the 60-member province assembly.

Talking to the media after the voting on the motion of vote of confidence, Devkota said his decision was driven by the need for stability. Devkota, who was elected using the election symbol of CPN (Maoist Center) clarified that his decision was within his rights as a legislator. “I am a member of the NSP. I only used the Maoist Center’s election symbol when we formed a pre-election alliance,” he said, dismissing concerns about potential disciplinary action. “Since NC, Maoist Center and NSP contested the election by forming an alliance, my decision to support Chief Minister Pandey shouldn’t be taken otherwise.”

Devkota said he would accept any decision taken by the NSP. “The Chief Whip of the Maoist Center will now ask the NSP why the whip was not followed. NSP will then seek clarification from me. I will tell the party why I had to take this decision,” he added.