CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader Khagaraj Adhikari has staked a claim for the chief ministerial post in Gandaki Province.

A total of 31 Province Assembly members supported his claim for the chief minister, according to UML Parliamentary Party Chief Whip Govinda Nepali.

Those PA members supporting Adhikari include 22 of the UML, eight from the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the remaining one is independent. In the 60-member Gandaki PA, the confidence of at least 30 members is needed to be appointed as the chief minister.

Last Thursday, Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey tendered his resignation before the Province Chief and then the Province Chief called on political parties to stake a claim for the appointment to the post by April 9.  The coalition partners presented the claim before the deadline.

Nepali Congress, the largest party in the Gandaki with 27 members, leader Pandey resigned from the post after it was assessed that he was not going to get a vote of confidence.

The Rastriya Prajantra Party (RPP) which has two members in Gandaki is still undecided whether to support a new government or not.