INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, APRIL 18Dirgha Bahadur Sodari of CPN (Unified Socialist) has been appointed as the Chief Minister of
Yamlal Kandel sworn in as Karnali Chief Minister
Newly appointed CM of Gandaki Province, Adhikari, administered oath
Province Chief Najir Miya appointed Sodari to the post on Thursday in accordance with Article 168(2) of the
Sodari serves as the parliamentary party leader of the CPN (US) in the Sudurpashim Province Assembly (PA).He garnered support from CPN
(Maoist Centre), CPN (UML), Nagarik Unmukti Party (not all, but those believed to be in the camp of party Chair Ranjita Shrestha Chaudhary),
and independent PA member Dr
Tara Joshi to qualify for the appointment to the CM post
Sodari had presented his claim for the appointment to the post on Thursday itself.
On April 5, the Province Chief called
upon political parties to stake their claim for the Chief Minister post within ten days
Laxman Kishor Chaudhary and Kailash Chaudhary of the Nagarik Unmukti presented their claims on April 14, seeking the appointment as Chief
Minister.Finding both claims unconvincing, the Province Chief on April 16 issued a fresh call to political parties to approach him
constitutionally for the appointment of the Chief Minister by Thursday (April 18).The division within the Nagarik Unmutki in the Province
Assembly proved decisive in forming a new government under the leadership of the Unified Socialist, which holds four members in the
53-member PA.However, the party's PA member Ghanashyam Chaudhary, who is said to be close to the Resham Chaudhary faction, met with the
Province Chief on Thursday to express concern over the claim presented by Sodari
As Chaudhary informed the Province Chief, the party officially does not support the CPN (US) for the Chief Minister position.The intra-party
conflict within Nagariki Unmukti, the fourth-largest party in Sudurpashsim, shows no sign of resolution
The Ranjita Shrestha faction favors aligning with the central alliance, while those close to the party founder Resham Lal Chaudhary are
inclined towards siding with the Nepali Congress.In the 53-member PA, the NC is the largest with 18 members, followed by 10 from CPN (Maoist
Centre) excluding the Speaker, seven from Nagarik Unmukti, four from Unified Socialist, one from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and one
independent.A by-election for the vacant post (Bajhang-A) is scheduled for April 27
The support of 27 PA members is required to qualify for appointment as Chief Minister.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com