The CPN-UML-led government has collapsed in the Koshi Province after Chief Minister Hikmat Karki failed to secure the vote of confidence.
With this, the main opposition UML has lost the leadership in four provinces within six months.
Chief Minister Hikmat Karki could not get a vote of confidence from the province assembly meeting held on Friday.
After Chief Minister Karki asked for a vote of confidence in the Province Assembly meeting held today, Speaker Baburam Gautam started the vote-splitting process.
According to Speaker Gautam, out of 93 MPs, 89 people were present during the voting.
But only 46 MPs -- 40 MPs from UML and six from Rastriya Prajatantra Party -- voted in favor of Karki. He was opposed by 29 MPs from the Nepali Congress, 13 from the CPN (Maoist Center) and four from the CPN (Unified Socialist).
Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) remained neutral in the voting. Nirmala Limbu, the only MP of Janata Samajbadi in Koshi, did not attend the meeting.
In the 93-member province assembly, Karki needed 47 votes for the majority, but he received only 46 votes, while 43 votes were cast against him.
Chief Minister Karki was preparing to take the vote of confidence on Thursday itself. But the meeting was adjourned late at night.
Karki became the Chief Minister on January 8, 2023 with the support of UML, Maoist Center, RPP and JSP lawmakers in line with Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.
Following the dissolution of the UML-led coalition formed on December 25, 2022, the Karki-led government fell into a minority when the Maoist Center and JSP withdrew their support.
In such a case, there is a legal provision to take a vote of confidence within 30 days.
In Province 1, there are 40 MPs from UML, 29 from Nepali Congress, 13 from Maoist Center, six from RPP and one from JSP.
Karki had been appointed Chief Minister with the support of 60 MPs. But when the Maoist Center and JSP backed down, Kari-led government fell into minority.
UML Standing Committee member Karki was elected as a member of the provincial assembly from Jhapa 5 'A' in the provincial assembly elections held on November 20, 2022.
