Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey on Thursday secured a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly.

The trust motion tabled by the chief minister got 35 votes while 22 assembly members stood against it.

A total of 27 Nepali Congress members, seven from the CPN (Maoist Centre) and one independent member voted in favour of the motion.

A total of 22 members from the CPN-UML voted against the chief minister while two lawmakers from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party stayed neutral.

Nepali Congress provincial assembly leader Pandey was appointed chief minister on April 27.

The Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have agreed to lead the government by turns in the province.

CPN-UML leader Khaga Raj Adhikari-led government collapsed after he failed to garner a vote of confidence on April 22.

A provincial assembly member needs the support of at least 31 members to be elected as chief minister in the 60-strong provincial assembly.

Nepali Congress has 27 members, UML has 22 members, Maoist Centre has seven [except Speaker Krishna Dhital who is from the party] and Rastriya Prajatantra Party has two members in the Gandaki province assembly. The assembly also has an independently elected candidate.