CPN-UML provincial assembly leader Hikmat Karki on Thursday staked his claim for Koshi chief minister.

Karki presented his claim with the signatures of 52 lawmakers from his party and the CPN (Maoist Centre) before Parshuram Khapung. The support of 47 lawmakers is needed for a majority to form the government in the 93-strong assembly.

The province head in a notice on Wednesday evening asked lawmakers from the provincial assembly who can secure a majority in the assembly to present their claim for the chief ministerial position by 5pm Friday.

The province head is preparing to verify the signatures of the lawmakers. Karki will be appointed chief minister once the process is completed.

If appointed, it will be Karki’s third stint as a chief minister in 17 months.

On January 8, 2023, Province Head Khapung appointed Karki as the chief minister of the province as per Article 168 (2) of the constitution after he laid claim to the post with the support of 60 members. He lost his position after failing to secure the vote of confidence during the floor test in the provincial assembly on June 30 of the same year.

Karki was appointed chief minister for the second time on September 8 following a Supreme Court’s order. He then resigned on October 7 without facing a floor test at the provincial assembly.

The province head made the announcement hours after lawmakers from the UML and the Maoist Centre requested him to initiate the process of forming a new government.

On April 8, both the UML and the Maoist Centre officially announced the withdrawal of their support to the Karki government.

Subsequently, on April 19, the special session of the provincial assembly passed a resolution instructing the chief minister to seek a vote of confidence within 30 days of losing the majority or resigning from the post. The deadline expired on Tuesday.

Article 188 (2) of the constitution also states that the chief minister needs to take a vote of confidence within 30 days if the coalition partners withdraw their support. However, the outgoing Chief Minister Kedar Karki remained steadfast in his refusal to either seek a floor test or resign, thereby complicating the provincial government’s position.

The outgoing chief minister is preparing to move the Supreme Court, arguing that the call for a new government formation was unconstitutional.