By Lalit Basel
Surkhet, Oct. 14: The proposal of no-confidence motion against Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Chief Minister of the Karnali State and leader of the parliamentary party of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), has fallen into minority.
Of the 18 State Assembly members who had signed the proposal, seven were absent in the meeting called by then chief whip Gulab Jung Shah, which reduced the proposal to minority.
CM Shahi had replaced Shah with Sita Nepali in the position of Chief Whip on Monday.
In the meeting which was called for 1:00 pm, seven State Assembly members who are said to be close to senior NCP leader Madhav Kumar Nepal were not present.
After State Assembly members Chandra Bahadur Shahi, Karbir Shahi, Kurma Raj Shahi, Amar Bahadur Thapa, Padma Khadka and Devi Oli skipped the meeting, the proposal fell into minority.
"I was not present in the meeting on Tuesday. However, I have not withdrawn my signature from the proposal," said Padma Khadka.
Khadka said that she decided to not join the meeting as she was approached for consultation and discussions by halting the meeting. "I will take part in the meeting after a group decision is made," she added. Meanwhile, former chief whip Shah said that the meeting called on Tuesday was postponed. "As the leaders of the party directed us to discuss the issue before calling the meeting, we are currently holding preliminary discussions," said Shah.
Shah said that CM Shahi, Yamlal Kandel, Prakash Jwala and Chandra Bahadur Shahi were present in the discussion. Moreover, the newly appointed chief whip Nepali said that the official meeting of the parliamentary party would be held on October 23. Stating that the meeting called on Tuesday was not an official one, Nepali said that the discussions and consultations were being held to resolve the political issue.
Shahi appointed as whip
CM Shahi on Tuesday also appointed Kurmaraj Shahi, who had signed on the proposal of no confidence motion against the CM, as the whip of the parliamentary party. The Karnali State central office of the NCP and State Assembly Secretariat has also been informed about the appointment.