POKHARA, June 10: Gandaki Province Chief Minister (CM) Surendra Raj Pandey has successfully received a vote of confidence on Monday. This crucial support came after Phadindra Devkota, a provincial assembly member from the Nepal Socialist Party (NSP) who was elected under the Maoist Center's symbol, crossed the floor to vote in Pandey's favor.

Pandey secured the vote of confidence with the backing of 27 members from the ruling Nepali Congress and 2 members from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), including independent MP Deepak Manange. Speaker Krishna Dhital announced that Pandey had secured the required majority in the provincial assembly.

Opposition to the vote included 22 MPs from CPN-UML and 6 MPs from CPN-Maoist Center. During the vote, opposition MPs attempted to prevent Phadindra Devkota from crossing the floor, but in vain.