Petition filed in Supreme Court against govt formation process in Gandaki

KATHMANDU: Former Gandaki Chief Minister and parliamentary party leader of Nepali Congress in the Gandaki Province Assembly, Surendra Raj Pandey, have filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the Gandaki Province Government led by Khaga Raj Adhikari of CPN-UML.

In the writ petition filed on Tuesday, Pandey has argued that the process of forming the government with the support of Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital is flawed and unconstitutional. “Since the decision is illegal and unconstitutional, I request the apex court to annul the process and reinstate me as the caretaker chief minister,” Pandey stated in his petition.

The main opposition moved the apex court after Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital ruled that Chief Minister Khaga Raj Adhikari, who received 30 votes, secured a vote of confidence, although the support of 31 members is needed to secure a majority in the 60-member Gandaki Province Assembly.

Pandey has named Speaker Dhital, Chief Minister Adhikari, and the Office of the Chief Minister defendants in the case.

The apex court is scheduled to hear the case on Thursday.