Will CM Rawal win the vote of confidence?

Dhangadhi: Although two weeks have passed since the formation of the government in the Far-West, the cabinet has not been completed. Although two more ministers have been appointed along with Chief Minister Rajendra Singh Rawal, they are still without departments.

Rajendra Singh Rawal, the leader of the parliamentary party of the CPN-UML, was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Far-West with the support of two or more parties in accordance with Article 168 of the Constitution. Rawal, who was appointed as the Chief Minister on Paush 27, took the oath of office and secrecy on Paush 28. There is a constitutional provision that a vote of confidence must be taken within 30 days of Rawal's appointment. If Rawal does not get a vote of confidence, the leader of the largest party will have to be appointed as the Chief Minister by the provincial head.

In other states, Chief Ministers have expanded the cabinet by taking the vote of confidence, but Chief Minister Rawal, who took oath on Paush 28, has not been able to garner the vote of confidence. With Rawal finding it difficult to garner a vote of confidence, Kamal Bahadur Shah, the leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party in the province, may be appointed as the Chief Minister.

In Article 168 of the Constitution, Clause 3, 'If the Chief Minister cannot be appointed in accordance with Clause (2) within 30 days from the date of the announcement of the final result of the Provincial Assembly election, or if the appointed Chief Minister fails to receive a vote of confidence in accordance with Clause (4), the Head of the Province having the most members in the Provincial Assembly shall be appointed. There is a provision to appoint the leader of the parliamentary party as the Chief Minister.

Nagarik Unmukti Party, which is supporting the ruling party, is not likely to support the Congress in the state. Although the entire focus of the UML and Maoist MPs is on getting the vote of confidence, a credible foundation has not yet been laid. The main basis for getting a vote of confidence for Chief Minister Rawal is the MPs of Nagarik Unmukti Party.

However, Nagarik Unmukti, which is decisive, has been demanding the release of their party founder Resham Chaudhary and six others for participation in the government and a vote of confidence. The Unmukti Party's position is that they will give a vote of confidence only if they start the process of addressing their demands, but will not vote until a confident environment is created.

27 votes are required for a majority in the 53-member state assembly. Apart from the Speaker, Maoists have 10 votes, UML has 10 votes and RPPA has 21 votes. There is a situation where the Chief Minister can get a vote of confidence only with the support of Nagarik Unmukti, which has 7 MPs. Article 168 of the Constitution in sub-section (5) states that if the Chief Minister appointed as per sub-section (3) fails to receive a vote of confidence as per sub-section (4), the sub-section If a member as per (2) is able to receive a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly, the head of the province will appoint such a member as the chief minister.