Bahadur Singh Lama of the Nepali Congress staked a claim for the position of the Bagmati province chief minister on Tuesday.

Lama presented his claim before Province Head Yadavchandra Sharma with the support of 64 provincial lawmakers.

The support of 56 lawmakers is required to form a government in the 110-strong provincial assembly.

Bagmati Chief Minister Shalikram Jamkattel resigned from the post on Sunday as his government fell into the minority after the CPN-UML withdrew its support.

Province Head Sharma subsequently asked provincial assembly members and political parties to submit their claims for the chief minister’s post by 5pm on Tuesday and form a government within two days.

As per the deal between Congress and UML, the Congress will lead the government of Bagmati and Sudurpaschim provinces. Congress leader Surendra Pandey is already the chief minister in Gandaki.