Biratnagar, February 9
The CPN-UML’s Provincial Assembly members in Province 1 have elected former minister Sher Dhan Rai their parliamentary party leader. As the party commands majority in the provincial legislature, Rai now will be appointed the Chief Minister.
During the election held in the provincial capital Biratnagar today, Rai polled 26 votes to defeat his competitor Bhim Acharya. Acharya received two votes less than Rai. One vote was declared invalid.
In the party’s faction politics, Rai is close to the party Chairman KP Sharma Oli whereas Acharya belongs to the rival faction led by senior leaders Jhala Nath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal.
In the 93-member Assembly, the UML has 51 members. The CPN-Maoist Centre’s 16 lawmakers will also extend support to the UML to form the provincial government.
