Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has laid a claim to the post of the Chief Minister in Koshi Pradesh after knowing that it would be impossible to form a new government without its support.
The RPP which has six seats in the Provincial Assembly can form a new government with the support of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), Janata Samajbadi Party and CPN (Unified Socialist).
If these four parties stand united, there will be a total of 50 members of parliament (MPs). In the 93-member Province Assembly, at least 47 MPs are required to form a simple majority government.
RPP parliamentary party leader Bhakti Prasad Sitaula said that he would be ready if the Congress and the Maoist Center gave a written commitment to give him the post of Chief Minister for four years.
Otherwise, he said, he is not in favor of changing the alliance of his party just for ministerial post. Sitaula is currently the Minister for Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives and spokesperson of the Province government.
With the JSP withdrawing its support from the government, CPN (UML) leader Hikmat Karki-led government has fallen into minority and has to take the vote of confidence within 30 days of the withdrawal of the support.
Nirmala Limbu who became the health minister in the Koshi Province resigned on May 31.
In the 93-member province assembly, there are 40 MPs from UML, 29 from Congress, 13 from Maoist Center, six from RPP, four from Unified Socialist and one from JSP.
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