KATHMANDU, June 9: Claiming a majority in the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum´s central committee (CC), Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar on Tuesday staked claim for being the official party at the Election Commission, said Ram Janam Chaudhari, Forum´s chief whip. [break]
Gachchhdar has collected the signatures of the 16 of the 35 CC members, said Chaudhari, a close confidant of the deputy prime minister.
EC will now have to verify the signatures. Gachchhadar already has a majority in the MPRF´s parliamentary party.
MPRF chairman Upendra Yadav announced the expulsion of Gachchhadar and six other party leaders a few days ago after Gachchhadar had recommended his name as deputy prime minister.
As of Monday night, Yadav had the clear support of 15 and Gachchhadar 11 of the CC members. Five of the CC members said they were neutral, one remained undecided and three could not be contacted.
CC members and ex-governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Tilak Rawal who was in neutral category on Monday said he was with the deputy prime minister. The identity of four other members who joined the ranks of Gachchhadar faction on Tuesday could not be established.
Earlier, Gachchhadar met Speaker of the Constituent Assembly and Legislature-Parliament claiming the support of the 29 of the 53 CA members of the Forum.
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