Will Sodari obtain the vote of confidence?

Dhangadhi: Dirgha Bahadur Sodari has been unable to garner the vote of confidence to secure his position as the Chief Minister so far.

There is a provision that a vote of confidence must be obtained from the Provincial Assembly within one month of being appointed as Chief Minister. But even though it is almost a month since Sodari was appointed as the Chief Minister, the date has not yet been announced for the vote of confidence.

CPN-UML initially supported Chief Minister Sodari however he has been unable to obtain the vote of confidence to secure his appointment. As the UML was not ready to give a vote of confidence immediately, Chief Minister Sodari could not get the vote of confidence from the House to form the government.

Three meetings called earlier have been postponed for the purpose of taking the vote of confidence. Earlier, Chief Minister Sodari had fixed the date and time for the meeting of the provincial assembly two times for the vote of confidence, but the meeting was postponed without being held.

The provincial assembly meeting has now become uncertain as the next date for the chief minister to take the vote of confidence has not been fixed. With the delay in taking the vote of confidence, the expansion of the government has also been delayed.

Akkal Rawal, the deputy leader of the Maoist Parliamentary Party, said that although informal discussions are being held in the coalition regarding the chief minister's vote of confidence, the date has not been finalised.

The UML refused to vote saying that the chief minister had fixed the date of vote of confidence without discussion, the members elected from Bajhang by-election had not taken an oath and there was no discussion with the party leadership at the centre. Even now, UML is in favor of waiting for a few days to give a vote of confidence to the Chief Minister.

The coalition has yet to agree on a minimum common program and governance. Sodari, the leader of the CPN Unified Socialist Party, was appointed the Chief Minister on April 18 with the support of Nepal Communist Party (UML), Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Center), Nagarik Unmukti and an independent MP.

The Chief Minister will have to take the vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly by May 18. Due to the vote of confidence, Chief Minister Sodari has not been able to form the government. UML, Maoists are ready to participate in the government only after the Chief Minister takes the vote of confidence. There are only two ministers in the government now from Nagarik Unmukti.