SC scraps petition against Gandaki Chief Minister Adhikari

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has scrapped a writ petition against the formation of a government in Gandaki Province under Khagaraj Adhikari of the CPN-UML.

Surendra Raj Pandey, the parliamentary leader of the Nepali Congress (NC) in the Gandaki Province Assembly, had filed the writ petition, arguing that Adhikari showed the support of the Speaker while submitting his claim to form the government to the Province Chief.

A division bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Saranga Subedi issued the order to scrap the petition, according to Govinda Ghimire, the information officer of the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the bench had ordered the Adhikari-led government not to make decisions that could have long-term implications until a final verdict was passed on the petition.

The bench also said whether Chief Minister Adhikari has a majority will be tested in the province assembly.

Parties need the support of 31 members to form government in Gandaki Province Assembly. Adhikari had showed the support of 22 members of CPN-UML including the Speaker, eight of CPN (Maoist Center), and one independent member, Rajiv Gurung.

In its verdict on the government formation in Koshi Province last year, the Supreme Court termed the Speaker’s support unconstitutional.