CM Baniya faces confidence vote amid Congress rebellion threat

KATHMANDU: Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya is set to face a vote of confidence today at 4 p.m. during a session of the Provincial Assembly.

As per Article 168(4) of Nepal’s Constitution, a chief minister appointed under sub-clause (2) must secure a vote of confidence within 30 days of appointment.

Baniya was appointed on July 20 with the backing of 64 lawmakers from the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, well above the 56 votes required to retain a majority in the 110-member assembly.

The ruling coalition comprises 37 Congress lawmakers and 27 from UML, suggesting a comfortable margin for the government.

However, internal rifts within Baniya’s own party, the Nepali Congress, have cast uncertainty over the outcome.

Around 14 lawmakers loyal to former Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama have warned they may withhold support, accusing Baniya of sidelining their faction during cabinet expansion and failing to honor prior agreements.

Despite the tensions, both coalition partners have already issued party whips—on Shrawan 24—directing all members to attend the session and vote in favor of the chief minister.

Under Nepal’s anti-defection law, lawmakers defying the whip risk losing their assembly seats, a factor that Baniya hopes will ensure discipline.

Baniya became the province’s sixth chief minister after Lama resigned amid an internal power struggle within the Congress party.

The main opposition in the provincial assembly, the CPN (Maoist Centre), holds 21 seats, followed by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party with 13 (including the speaker), the CPN (Unified Socialist) with 7, the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party with 3, and the Hamro Nepali Party with 2.