KATHMANDU, May 16: The chief minister (CM) of Sudurpaschim Province, Dirgha Bahadur Sodari, is seeking a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly today.

Sodari, who was appointed as the CM as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution on April 18, is going to take the vote of confidence in the provincial assembly today.

There is a constitutional provision that the CM must seek a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly within 30 days of his/her appointment to the post. Accordingly, Sodari has prepared to take the vote of confidence today.

After the ruling CPN-UML took the stand that preparations were not enough and that further discussions were needed, the meetings of the provincial assembly called by Chief Minister Sodari on May 3 and May 4 were postponed.

Sodari was appointed as the Chief Minister of the province with the support of UML, CPN (Maoist Center), two provincial assembly members of Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) and independent provincial lawmaker Dr Tara Joshi.

In the 53-member provincial assembly, there are 18 members from the Nepali Congress, 10 from the Maoist Center, 11 from the UML, seven from the NUP, four from the CPN (Unified Socialist) Party, and one each from RPP and an independent provincial lawmaker.

Meanwhile, the UML has decided to give a vote of confidence to Chief Minister Sodari.

Surendra Bahadur Pal, chief whip of the UML parliamentary party in Sudurpaschim Province, said that the party's parliamentary meeting on Wednesday decided to support Chief Minister Sodari.