Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki secured a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly on Wednesday.

Karki’s proposal for a vote of confidence was passed after 66 votes were cast in favour and 15 against, according to Speaker Ambar Bahadur Bista. A total of 83 lawmakers participated in the vote.

Chief Minister Karki, who initially took office with the support of the CPN (Maoist Centre), has secured a second vote of confidence after the Maoist Centre withdrew its support.

Karki, who was appointed chief minister on April 10, had first taken a vote of confidence on May 13.

The Maoist Centre quit the provincial government on July 26 and withdrew its support to the chief minister on August 30.

The Nepali Congress joined the government on September 13 with three ministers and one minister for state.

The Koshi Provincial Assembly comprises 93 members, including 40 from the UML and 29 from the Congress. Additionally, there are 13 members from the Maoist Centre, six from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, four from the CPN (Unified Socialist), and one from the Janata Samajbadi Party.