Unified Socialist’s Sodari submits claim to form govt in Sudurpashchim

KATHMANDU: Dirgha Sodari of CPN (Maoist Center) has submitted his claim to form a government in Sudurpashchim Province.

Sodari has the support of CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist) and Nagarik Unmukti Party.

UML, which had been refusing to support the Unified Socialist leader to form a government in the province, has finally agreed to support the party in forming the government. UML’s parliamentary party leader in Sudurpashchim Province Assembly wrote a letter to the Province Assembly Secretariat on Thursday, supporting Sodari’s claim for the chief minister’s position.

Earlier, rival factions of Nagarik Unmukti Party had submitted separate claims to form a government to Province Chief Nazir Miyan. However, Miyan rejected both claims and asked parties to submit fresh claims as per Article 168 (2) by 5 pm on Wednesday.

Nepali Congress is the largest party in the 53-member province assembly with 18 members, while the Maoist Center has 11, UML has 10, Nagarik Unmukti has eight, Unified Socialist has four, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has one.

The chief minister aspirants must secure the support of 27 members to form a government in the province.