KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Indra Bahadur Baniya is set to be appointed as the sixth Chief Minister of Bagmati Province today.
Baniya, who is also the leader of the NC Bagmati Province parliamentary party, submitted his claim for the Chief Minister’s post on Monday, following the resignation of Bahadur Singh Lama.
After Lama’s resignation was formally accepted, Province Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota invited claims for the Chief Ministerial position under Article 168(2) of the Constitution, setting a deadline for 2 PM today.
Baniya filed his claim with the backing of all 37 Nepali Congress lawmakers and 27 MPs from coalition partner CPN-UML, securing 64 votes—exceeding the majority mark of 56 in the 110-member Provincial Assembly.
Province Chief Devkota is scheduled to appoint Baniya as Chief Minister once the deadline passes.
The oath of office and secrecy is slated for 4 PM at the Province Chief’s Office.
The new government is being formed under Article 168(2) of the Constitution, which allows a Provincial Assembly member to become Chief Minister by garnering a majority with the support of two or more parties, if no party holds an outright majority.
An NC lawmaker said Baniya plans to expand his Cabinet immediately after taking the oath, with ministers from both the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML expected to join the Council of Ministers.
The current composition of Bagmati’s 110-member Provincial Assembly stands as follows: Nepali Congress (37), CPN-UML (27), CPN (Maoist Centre) (21), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (13), CPN (Unified Socialist) (7), Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party (3), and Hamro Nepali Party (2).
