Sonal to seek vote of confidence on Saturday

KATHMANDU: Madhesh Province Chief Minister Jitendra Sonal is preparing to seek a vote of confidence on Saturday.

He formally informed the Madhesh Provincial Assembly Secretariat about his decision through a letter on Thursday. “Please make necessary arrangements for obtaining a vote of confidence as per Article 168 (4) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, on November 8,” reads the letter.

Sonal plans to share ministerial portfolios among coalition partners and expand his cabinet after securing a trust vote.

A provincial assembly member of the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) Nepal, Sonal was appointed Chief Minister on October 15 with the backing of Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal, Janamat Party, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist). The latter two parties have merged to become the Nepali Communist Party (NCP).

Janamat Party, which has 13 members of the province assembly, split on the very day Sonal was appointed. Therefore, it is not certain whether he will get all 13 votes of the party. Former Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh and Tribhuvan Sah have joined a new party – Janaswaraj Party. However, the Supreme Court has stayed the Election Commission’s decision to register the Janaswaraj Party. If these two lawmakers do not vote in favor of the vote of confidence motion, Sonal will be a vote short, as JSP Nepal lawmaker Saroj Singh Kushbaha has been suspended after a graft case was filed against him at the Special Court.

However, JSP Nepal leaders say Nagarik Unmukti Party and Sanghiya Samajbadi Party will vote in favor of Sonal’s motion.

Sonal needs the support of 54 members in the 107-member Madhesh Province Assembly.