Madhesh Province Chief Minister Jitendra Prasad Sonal is set to seek a confidence vote in the provincial assembly on November 8, following a meeting with ruling coalition parties. However, a formal notice has not yet been submitted to the assembly.

Ram Ashish Yadav, chief whip of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal, said the ruling parties decided in a meeting that the chief minister will undergo a floor test on November 8 and expand the Cabinet afterwards. He said the coalition plans to seek support from the Nepali Congress and the UML for the vote.

Deputy provincial assembly leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Yubaraj Bhattarai also confirmed the plan, saying that since many issues were clarified during government formation, the Cabinet expansion will immediately follow the trust vote.

Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) provincial assembly member Sonal was appointed chief minister with the support of 56 provincial assembly members from five parties. The Nagarik Unmukti Party and Rizwan Ansari’s Nepal Federal Socialist Party, each with one member in the assembly, have also pledged support.

A total of 53 votes is required for a majority in the 107-member assembly, with three members suspended.

The ruling coalition comprises 18 members from JSP-Nepal, 13 from Janamat Party, nine from Maoist Centre, eight from Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, seven from CPN (Unified Socialist), and one each from Nagarik Unmukti Party and Nepal Federal Socialist Party.

The largest party, UML, followed by Congress and the Janaswaraj Party, have indicated that they will stay in opposition.