Lumbini Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya is set to seek a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly on August 17.
Acharya will seek the vote in accordance with the constitutional provision requiring a chief minister to secure a vote of confidence within 30 days after a political party withdraws its support to the provincial government. The Nepali Congress withdrew its support on July 28.
The government is preparing to finalize its expansion and the allocation of ministerial portfolios only after Acharya secures the vote of confidence.
According to an agreement signed between the CPN-UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), the UML will lead the Lumbini provincial government, with Acharya continuing as chief minister.
A final agreement has yet to be reached on allocating ministries to the NCP under the new power-sharing arrangement.
Indrajit Tharu, leader of the NCP’s provincial parliamentary party, said that his party plans to send ministers to the government only after the chief minister wins the vote of confidence.
Lumbini province has nine ministries, including the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers. At present, the government has five ministers from the UML, including the chief minister, and two ministers from the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal.
The 83-member provincial assembly requires 42 votes for a majority. The UML has 29 members and the NCP has 13, including the speaker. Since the speaker cannot vote, the government needs support from additional parties to secure a majority.
