DHANGADHI, Aug 19: Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta has secured a vote of confidence. Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari said 31 lawmakers voted in favour of the motion, while 15 voted against it.
Eleven CPN-UML lawmakers and 20 Nepali Communist Party (NCP) lawmakers voted in favour of Bhatta. Meanwhile, 14 Nepali Congress (NC) lawmakers and one Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker voted against the motion.
Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Bhatta had tabled a proposal seeking a vote of confidence during a meeting of the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly.
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Presenting the proposal, Bhatta said there were few opportunities but many challenges ahead. He said federalism was under attack and that the provincial structure must prove its necessity.
He urged lawmakers to support him as chief minister to improve the living standards of the people of Sudurpaschim, a province he described as historically oppressed, and to enhance their dignity, identity and self-respect.
Bhatta said he had determination, dreams and a clear goal. “I have seen with my own eyes what is cooking in whose kitchen,” he said. “We can tear apart the blanket of public frustration and increase people’s trust in the provincial structure.” He also pledged to change the province’s identity as one where budgets are bought and sold.
On August 14, Province Chief Nazir Miya appointed Bhatta as chief minister. The same day, the province chief administered the oath of office and secrecy to him. The new government was formed through an alliance between the UML and NCP.
Four ministers allocated to the NCP have yet to be appointed. Three ministers and one state minister from the UML have been appointed.
The 53-member Provincial Assembly has 22 NCP lawmakers, 18 from the NC, 11 from the UML and one from the RPP. Of them, NCP lawmaker Dirgha Bahadur Sodari, who is also a former chief minister, is suspended. NC lawmaker Prakash Bahadur Deuba, who has been living in the United States for a long time, has been removed from office by the Speaker. One seat is vacant following the resignation of independent lawmaker Dr Tara Joshi, elected from Dadeldhura.
