Madhesh Chief Minister Skips Confidence Vote Fearing Floor-Crossing

Janakpurdham — Madhesh Province Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav has failed to seek a vote of confidence due to fears of floor-crossing. The meeting of the Madhesh Provincial Assembly, originally scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, has been postponed for the second time.

According to the Provincial Assembly Regulations, if a meeting cannot convene within two hours of the scheduled time, it must be adjourned and reconvened later. As there was no possibility of the meeting taking place by 1 p.m., it was postponed and rescheduled for 1:10 p.m.

However, when it still appeared unlikely that the meeting could take place by 3:10 p.m., the session was again adjourned and rescheduled for 3:15 p.m.

Yadav, who represents the Nepali Congress, has been holding discussions after indications that lawmakers from his own party as well as the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal could engage in floor-crossing.

After the Janamat Party withdrew its support from the Madhesh government on Baisakh 22, constitutional provisions required the chief minister to obtain a vote of confidence within 30 days. Yadav had secured time in the Provincial Assembly for the confidence vote today.

Previously, then Chief Minister Jitendra Prasad Sonar had also scheduled a confidence vote in the Provincial Assembly, but resigned from the post at the last moment after two provincial assembly members from the then CPN (Maoist Centre) indicated they would not support him.