Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki resigned on Saturday without facing a floor test at the provincial assembly.

Speaking at the provincial assembly meeting, the chief minister announced that he decided to quit and will submit his resignation to the provincial head.

Karki said he resigned with a view to create an environment conducive for forging a consensus among the political parties in the assembly. He said his move was aimed at averting the mid-term which is inevitable if the political parties fail to come together.

“No political party has a majority in the assembly. A political solution can’t be achieved without cooperation among political parties. We have to go for mid-term polls within a few months if we remain rigid on our stances,” he said. “The mid-term election is neither a demand of the people nor it a matter of interest of the people.”

Chief Minister Karki said CPN-UML is ready to make any sacrifices to take the politics of the province on the right track.

“UML is ready to do the needful to create an environment of consensus and cooperation. Other parties should also follow suit to prevent mid-term elections,” Karki said.

The provincial assembly was scheduled to vote on the trust motion of the chief minister today. UML provincial assembly leader Karki, who was appointed chief minister as per Article 168 (3) of the constitution on September 8 had to secure a vote of confidence within Saturday as per the constitutional provision.

On September 7, a full bench of the apex court comprising Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Chudal and Nahakul Subedi issued the mandamus order to appoint Karki as the chief minister within 48 hours as per Article 168(3) of the constitution. The chief minister appointed under clause (2) or (3) of the Article shall obtain a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly no later than 30 days after the date of such appointment.