Parties told to make claim for govt formation in Gandaki by Monday

POKHARA: Province Chief Prithvi Man Gurung has given political parties five days to form government in Gandaki Province.

Issuing a notice on Thursday, the Office of the Province Chief invited political parties to make claim for government formation by 4 pm on Monday.

No party commands a majority in the 60-member province assembly. Nepali Congress (NC) is the largest party in the province with 27 seats, followed by CPN-UML with 22, Maoist Center with eight seats, and RPP with two seats, while CPN (Unified Socialist) has one seat.

Since the province assembly does not have a clear majority of any party to form a government as per Article 168 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, the province chief has called on assembly members to form a government with the support of more than two parties as per Article 168(2).

NC was certain to form government in the province until a new coalition was formed at the center about a week ago. Therefore, the seven-party coalition led by the UML is likely to make a claim to government formation in the province. UML’s Khagaraj Adhikari is likely to become the province’s next chief minister.