The CPN (Maoist Center) has decided to quit the Gandaki Province government, withdrawing its support to Chief Minister Khagaraj Adhikari. A meeting of the Maoist Center parliamentary party for the province held today decided to leave the government, according to leader Hari Bahadur Chuman.
Two ministers representing the party will be submitting their resignations before the Chief Minister today itself. Chuman is the minister for physical infrastructure and Resham Jugjali is the minister for industry, tourism, forest, and environment on behalf of the party.
On Thursday, Prime Minister and party central Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal directed the party to leave the government. With the party's decision to pull out of the CPN (UML)-led government in Gandaki, the latter has the status of a minority government and it mandates the Chief Minister to receive a vote of confidence within the next 30 days. In case of failing to obtain confidence, the government shall collapse.
Adhikari was appointed the Chief Minister on January 9 with the support of 22 UML members, eight of the Maoist Center and two of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. According to leader Chuman, the move followed the changed political equation in the center.
The Nepali Congress (NC), the largest party in the Gandaki PA with 27 members, and the Maoist Center are exercising to form a new government. In the 60-member PA, the support of 31 members is necessary to stake a claim for forming a majority government and it is met comfortably if the two parties get united.
It is said it is yet to be finalized who will lead the government and both parties are aspirants for the post of Chief Minister.
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