Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel has secured a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly on Friday.

CM Pokharel filed a proposal at the provincial assembly meeting the same day, seeking a vote of confidence. After the voting procedure, Speaker Netranath Adhikari informed that Pokharel secured 31 votes in the 60-member provincial assembly.

As many as 27 votes were cast against the vote of confidence motion.

A total of 59 members, including Speaker Adhikari, were present during the provincial assembly meeting. All members except Adhikari used their voting rights.

Pokharel, a provincial assembly member elected from Nepali Congress, was appointed as the chief minister on June 12 after then chief minister Prithvi Subba Gurung lost the vote of confidence.

Governor Sita Paudel appointed Pokharel as the chief minister under article 168 (5) of Constitution of Nepal 2015. He was appointed chief minister with the support of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Janamorcha and Janata Samajwadi Party.

According to the constitutional provision, the chief minister appointed under article 168 (5) has to win a vote of confidence within 30 days of his/her appointment. Pokharel received the support of 15 members of Nepali Congress, 11 members of Maoist Centre (except speaker), two members each of Rastriya Janamorcha and Janata Samajwadi Party and independent member Rajiv Gurung also known as Dipak Manange.

The provincial assembly in Gandaki currently has 59 members. The Supreme Court recently decided to strip Rastriya Janamorcha member Krishna Thapa.