Nepali Congress provincial assembly leader Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary on Thursday staked a claim to lead the new provincial government in Lumbini Province.

Chaudhary presented his claim to provincial head Amik Sherchan with the signatures of 53 provincial assembly members as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.

A total of 27 Nepali Congress assembly members, 10 of the CPN (Maoist Centre) [except Speaker Tularam Gharti, who is also from the Maoist Centre], four of the Nagarik Unmukti Party, three each of Janamat Party, the Janata Samajbadi Party and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and one each from Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (Unified Socialist) and one independent member have supported Chaudhary.

Support from 44 members is required for a government formation in the 87-member assembly.

Chaudhary was elected to the provincial assembly from Dang-3(a) in the last year’s polls.

Congress and the Maoist Centre have agreed to lead the upcoming provincial government by turns. As per the agreement, Chaudhary will lead the government first and Maoist Centre leader Jokha Bahadur Mahara will succeed him later.

Provincial head Amik Sherchan on Tuesday had called on parties to stake a claim for a new government after outgoing Chief Minister Leela Giri lost his position as he failed the trust vote.