Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Surendra Pandey has been appointed as the chief minister of Gandaki Province. Province Chief Prithvi Subba Gurung appointed Pandey as the chief minister as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution. Now, the newly appointed chief minister has to seek a vote of confidence within 30 days.

Pandey laid his claim for the chief ministership before the province chief with the signatures of the majority of the lawmakers on Thursday.

Earlier on March 23, CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader and Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari had failed to secure a vote of confidence. Nepali Congress has 27 lawmakers in Gandaki Province, CPN-UML 22, CPN (Maoist Center) eight and Rastriya Prajatantra Party has two lawmakers in the province. The province has one independent lawmaker.