KATHMANDU, May 29: Nepali Congress (NC) Parliamentary Party leader of Gandaki Province, Surendra Pandey, is set to become the Chief Minister of the province today.

On Monday, a joint bench of justices Kumar Regmi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel directed the appointment of Pandey as Chief Minister, recognizing him as the leader of the largest party in the province.

The outgoing Chief Minister, Khagraj Adhikari, was relieved of his post after the Supreme Court invalidated his trust vote. The court issued a mandamus to the Gandaki Province Chief, directing the appointment of Pandey in accordance with Article 168 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal within 48 hours.

This marks the second time NC parliamentary party leader Pandey will assume the role of Chief Minister following the second general elections.

The NC is the largest party in Gandaki Province, holding 27 seats. In the 60-member Provincial Assembly, 31 lawmakers are required to form the government. Independent provincial lawmaker Rajib Gurung and two lawmakers from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party are likely to support Pandey.

Pandey will need to secure a vote of confidence within the next 30 days.

The composition of the Provincial Assembly is as follows: 27 lawmakers from the NC, 22 from the CPN-UML, eight (including the speaker) from the CPN (Maoist Center), and one independent provincial lawmaker.

 
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