Surendra Raj Pandey appointed as Gandaki chief minister

Surendra Raj Pandey has been appointed as the chief minister of Gandaki Province.

Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta on Wednesday appointed Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Pandey as the chief minister in accordance with Article 168 (3) of the Constitution.

Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that the appointment and vote of confidence taken by Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari was against the Constitution.

The court had ordered the Province Chief to appoint Pandey, a leader of the largest party in the Province Assembly, as the chief minister within 48 hours.

Province Chief Bhatta Bhatta later appointed Pandey as the chief minister.

Former Chief Minister Pandey had filed a writ petition at the apex court demanding that the vote of confidence sought by Adhikari be scrapped and he be appointed as the chief minister.

While seeking a vote of confidence, Adhikari had garnered 30 votes while 27 voted against him in the Province Assembly.