Two former chief ministers of Koshi Province, Sherdhan Rai and Rajendra Rai, have held a meeting in Dharan.
CPN (UML) Standing Committee member Sherdhan and Unified Socialist Party Secretary Rajendra discussed the Koshi province government during the meeting held at Dharan's Kitchen Hotel on Sunday night, sources have said.
According to sources, during the meeting, Sherdhan proposed Rajendra to support the government led by UML Parliamentary Party leader Hikmat Karki and then become the Chief Minister after Karki.
“Sherdhan proposed Rajendra to lent support to the Karki-led government and then become the Chief Minister after Karki,” said the source.
According to Article 168 (3) of the Constitution, the Karki-led government formed on September 8 will collapse if it does not secure a vote of confidence within 30 days.
After this, according to Article 168 of the Constitution, the door will remain opened for any member of the parliament to claim the government by garnering a majority in the parliament. The UML leaders have been active to prevent it from reaching Clause 5.
With the deadline for Karki to take the vote of confidence fast-approaching, UML leader Sherdhan has tried to attract the votes of the Unified Socialist. There are four MPs from the United Samajbadi Party in Koshi. There are currently 46 MPs including UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Party in favor of Karki. A total of 47 MPs are required for a majority.
While speculations about the mid-term poll are being made in Kohi, intense discussions are going on between the leaders of both the UML and Samajbadi Party in a bid to sustain the Karki-led government.
Former Chief Minister Rajendra has confirmed about the meeting.
“We met. It is natural to talk about the Koshi Province government,” said Rajendra Rai, “but as you have heard, there is no possibility of such a thing now. Since we are residents of the same district, it is not necessary to take this meeting otherwise.”
Rai shared that he does not immediately see the possibility of helping the UML in Koshi, since Unified Socialist Party is currently in the ruling coalition.
