Gandaki: Pokharel of Nepali Congress stakes his claim to chief ministership

Pokhara : Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel of the Nepali Congress party has staked his claim over the vacant position of chief minister in the Gandaki province.

The position is vacant since the resignation of incumbent Prithvi Subba Gurung of the CPN-UML on Sunday.

Pokharel today submitted a letter to Provincial Governor Sita Paudel, claiming he has the support of 32 lawmakers including 15 of his own party, 12 of the CPN-Maoist Centre, three of the Rastriya Janamorcha and two of the Janata Samajbadi Party in the Provincial Assembly. In the 60-member assembly, garnering the support of 31 lawmakers would qualify one to become the chief minister.

The Provincial Assembly was set to vote on a no-confidence motion that the opposition parties had filed against Gurung on Monday. However, Gurung quit on Sunday saying there was no environment to work in the province.