The Nepali Congress on Sunday staked a claim to lead a new government in Lumbini Province, a move aimed at pilling pressure on Chief Minister Leela Giri to resign.

Congress provincial assembly leader Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary presented his claim before province head Amik Sherchan with the support of 54 lawmakers.

Chaudhary has demanded to appoint him the chief minister as per Article 168(2) of the Constitution with the support of the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Nagarik Unmukti Party, the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, the Janamat Party, the Janata Samajbadi Party, the CPN (Unified Socialist), the Rastriya Janamorcha and one independent member along with his party.

The Leela Giri-led government lost the majority after parties including the Maoist Centre withdraw their support to the government earlier today.

The chief minister now needs to secure the confidence of the provincial assembly within 30 days to retain his position. The process for the new chief minister can also start if the incumbent chief minister resigns.

“We have started the process for appointing a new chief minister as Chief Minister Giri has agreed to resign as per our request,” said Sudarshan Baral, the outgoing minister who is also the Maoist Lumbini Province chairman.

The Nepali Congress on Friday had decided to form a new government in Lumbini Province under its leadership.

A meeting of the party had decided to form the government under its leadership and had requested the parties including the Maoist Centre participating in the incumbent government led by the UML to leave the government.

CPN-UML’s Lumbini provincial assembly leader Giri was appointed Lumbini Province chief minister on January 11.

Giri was supported by CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party and three independent lawmakers.

Support from 44 provincial assembly members is required to form a government in the 87-member provincial assembly.

UML has 29 provincial assembly members, Nepali Congress 27, CPN (Maoist Centre) 10, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Janata Samajbadi Party four each, Janamat Party and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party three each and CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Janamorcha have one each provincial assembly member.