Nepal: Chief Minister of Gandaki province sacked, ruling coalition suffers major setback

Kathmandu, May 27 (Tezzbuzz). The Supreme Court of Nepal has dismissed the Chief Minister of Gandaki province. This decision of the court is a big setback for the ruling coalition.
After the political equations changed in Nepal, the government changed in all the states. Accordingly, in Gandaki state, Nepali Congress Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey resigned due to lack of majority. In place of Pandey, CPN UML leader Khagraj Adhikari took oath as Chief Minister. In order to get the 31 votes required for majority in the 60-member state assembly, Chief Minister Adhikari also used the signature of the Speaker of the House to stake claim to form the government. While proving the majority, the Speaker also cast his vote and ensured majority.
The Supreme Court, while giving its verdict on the writ filed in this case today, said that a government formed with only 30 votes instead of the required 31 votes for a majority cannot be recognised. The court said that even the speaker’s signature cannot be recognised.
The Supreme Court said that Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari has been dismissed with immediate effect and as per the next section of the Constitution, a mandate has been issued to appoint Pandey as the Chief Minister again. As per the provision of the Constitution, if the coalition party fails to form the government, then the leader of the largest party will be made the Chief Minister. After the court’s order, Adhikari has left the Chief Minister’s office and Pandey met the Governor of the state this evening and discussed about the swearing-in ceremony.
Tezzbuzz News / Pankaj Das/Prabhat