CM Pandey taking a vote of confidence

KATHMANDU: NOV. 7 – Newly appointed Chief Minister of Bagmati State Rajendra Pandey is going to take a vote of confidence. Pandey, who was appointed as the third chief minister in Bagmati on Oct. 28, will take a vote of confidence on Monday, said Parbati Silwal, an MP from the Unified Socialist Party. Constitutionally, a vote of confidence must be taken from the state assembly within 30 days of being appointed as the chief minister.

Chief Minister Pandey has called a meeting of the state assembly on Monday for the purpose of taking a vote of confidence. The meeting is being held at 3 pm, where Chief Minister Pandey will take a vote of confidence.

The Maoist Center, Nepali Congress and JSP are participating in the government formed according to the central alliance. Pandey, who is also the party’s vice-president, has led the government on behalf of the Unified Socialists.

Pandey has also formed a four-member cabiet on Oct. 28. Krishna Prasad Khanal has become the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law on behalf of the Unified Socialists. When Krishnalal Bhadel of the Nepali Congress became the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, Kumari Moktan became the Minister for Social Development from the Maoist Center.

Chief Minister Pandey is sure to get a vote of confidence. The coalition has only 59 seats in Bagmati, which has 109 seats including the Speaker. 55 seats is enough to form a government. Chief Minister Pandey will get the votes of 59 state assembly members. “The chief minister will get a vote of confidence,” she said.

The UCPN-M has 23 votes, the Congress 22, the Unified Socialists 13 and the JSP has one. The main opposition CPN-UML has 43 members. While RPP and NCP have 2-2 votes, Bibeksheel Sajha Party has 3 votes.

A leader said that he was preparing to expand the cabinet as soon as Chief Minister Pandey took the vote of confidence. Pandey has even made preparations to split the current three ministries to share the ministry. A leader said that preparations are underway to split the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment within the alliance.

Bagmati, which currently has eight ministries, will now have 11 ministries.