Sher Dhan Rai elected PP leader; to be appointed chief minister of Prov 1

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: Sher Dhan Rai has been elected as the CPN-UML parliamentary party leader (PP) of Province 1. Party’s politburo member and former Information and Communication Minister, Rai defeated Bhim Acharya by two votes in the internal election held on Friday. Rai secured 26 votes while his rival candidate Acharya garnered 24 votes. Acharya is party’s secretary.

Of the total 93 lawmakers in province assembly 1, UML has 51 and CPN (Maoist Center) has 16 lawmakers. With this, Sher Dhan Rai is in majority and is almost certain to be appointed the chief minister of Province 1.

UML has finalized chief ministers in three of four provinces. UML and CPN (Maoist Center) agreed to lead four and two provinces governments respectively. Maoist Center has already nominated Mahendra Bahadur Shahi and Trilochan Bhatta as the chief ministers of Province 6 and 7 whereas in Province 5, UML’s Shankhar Pokhrel has already been elected unopposed.

Earlier in the day, UML’s Dormani Poudel was elected as the parliamentary party leader in Province 3. Poudel defeated Asta Laxmi Shakya with a margin of 24 votes.

Meanwhile in Province 2, the Madhes-centric parties Federal Socialist Forum Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal are still mulling over chief ministerial post. FSFN’s muslim leader Mohammad Lal Babu Raut has already been elected as the parliamentary party leader of province assembly.