Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta to Seek Vote of Confidence Today
Dragon Media Correspondent
Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta is set to seek a vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly today.
Bhatta, parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), was appointed Chief Minister on Shrawan 29 under Article 168(2) of the Constitution. Under Article 168(4), a Chief Minister appointed under this provision must secure a vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly within 30 days.
According to Provincial Assembly Secretariat Secretary Dev Bahadur Bogati, Bhatta sent a letter to the Secretariat on Tuesday requesting arrangements for a meeting to hold the confidence vote. Accordingly, the Provincial Assembly is scheduled to meet at 1:00 pm today.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Bhatta will table the confidence motion. Provincial Assembly members will then take part in the discussion before the proposal is put to a vote.
Bhatta, who became Chief Minister with the support of the CPN-UML, appears to have a comfortable majority. The Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly currently has 52 members, meaning 27 votes are required for a majority.
The NCP has 22 members, the Nepali Congress 18, the UML 11 and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party one. The NCP and UML together command 33 seats, six more than the number required for a majority.
Bhatta is expected to expand the provincial government after securing the vote of confidence.
Sudurpaschim has provision for a 10-member Council of Ministers, including seven ministers and two ministers of state in addition to the Chief Minister. At present, only three ministers and one minister of state are serving in the government.
Chief Minister Bhatta is also holding the portfolios of Internal Affairs and Law; Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment; and Physical Infrastructure Development.
The government is expected to distribute the remaining portfolios and appoint additional ministers and ministers of state after the confidence vote.
