Sudurpaschim Province Head Najir Miya on Friday called on the political parties represented in the provincial assembly to show a majority and stake their claim for the post of chief minister within three days.

The Office of the Province Head, through a notice issued by Dirgha Raj Bhatta, spokesperson for the office, has called on the political parties to present a majority in favour of an assembly member through the support of two or more parties represented in the provincial legislature to be appointed the chief minister by 5pm on Sunday, as per Article 168 (2) of the constitution.

The Nepali Congress-CPN-UML have a majority to form a joint government in the province. The support of 27 members is required to command a majority in the 53-member provincial assembly. The Congress has 18 members and the UML has 11. The Nagarik Unmukti Party, which has seven members, will also support the new government.

As per the July 1 deal reached between the two largest parties–the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML–the Congress will lead the Sudurpashim government.

However, the Congress has yet to pick its chief ministerial candidate. Provincial assembly leader Kamal Bahadur Shah, Prakash Deuba, Bahadur Singh Thapa, and Divan Singh Bista are said to be in the race. Bista belongs to the Shekhar Koirala-led faction, while three others are close to party President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Earlier on Friday, Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Dirgha Bahadur Sodari resigned from his position while addressing a provincial assembly meeting.

The provincial assembly meeting was scheduled to vote on a motion of confidence tabled by the chief minister. However, Sodari announced his resignation during the same meeting.

The Sodari-led government was reduced to a minority after the CPN-UML withdrew its support to his government on July 4 following the dramatic changes in the ruling coalition at the centre.

Sodari, a leader of CPN (Unified Socialist), was appointed chief minister of the province on April 18 with the support of the CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), Nagarik Unmukti Party and an independent member despite his bitter relations with the UML’s local politicians.

As per the July 1 Congress-UML deal, the two parties have agreed to lead three provinces each. The Congress is to lead Bagmati, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces and the UML Koshi, Lumbini and Karnali provinces. The two parties have already formed the provincial governments as per the agreement in other provinces except for Sudurpaschim. The Congress and the UML have supported the Janamat Party’s chief minister in Madhesh Province.