BIRATNAGAR, Sept 18: Koshi Province Chief Minister (CM) Hikmat Kumar Karki is preparing to seek a vote of confidence today. A provincial assembly meeting has been scheduled for 1 PM this afternoon for the purpose of the vote.

Secretary Gopal Parajuli of the Provincial Assembly Secretariat said that Chief Minister Karki has called for a provincial assembly meeting at 1 PM today for the purpose of seeking a vote of confidence.

Karki, who was appointed the CM of the province on May 9 with the support of the CPN (Maoist Center), had previously secured a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly on May 13. However, after the Maoist Center withdrew its support on August 30, Karki is now preparing to seek a fresh vote of confidence.

With the change in the ruling coalition, the Maoist Center, which had exited the Koshi government on July 26, withdrew its support to the government on August 30.

According to Article 168 (5) of the Constitution, CM Karki is set to seek a vote of confidence for a second time. The constitutional provision requires that if a party participating in the government withdraws its support, the CM must seek a vote of confidence within 30 days.

Karki, who is set to seek a vote of confidence on Wednesday, is expected to easily secure it. In the 93-member Koshi Provincial Assembly, 47 votes are required to pass the vote of confidence.

In Koshi, the ruling parties have 40 provincial lawmakers from the CPN-UML and 29 provincial lawmakers from the Nepali Congress. With a total of 69 provincial lawmakers in the ruling coalition, Chief Minister Karki is expected to easily secure the vote of confidence.

In the Koshi Provincial Assembly, there are 13 provincial lawmakers from the Maoist Center, six from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), four from the CPN (Unified Socialist), and one from the Janata Samajbadi Party.

 
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