KATHMANDU: Jokh Bahadur Mahara, the chief minister of Lumbini, is expected to ask the Provincial Assembly for a vote of confidence today. According to Secretary Durlav Kumar Pun, the vote will take place during the 24th meeting of the fourth session of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly, which is scheduled to start at 1 PM.

This confidence vote became necessary after Mahara's government lost the backing of the UML, which meant he had to prove he had the majority in the legislature. The UML and Congress are working to create a new government in Lumbini as a result of the present political climate.

In the assembly, the UML holds 29 seats, while the Congress has 27. Ten seats are held by the Maoist Center, while four seats are shared between the RPP and Nagarik Unmukti Party. With two seats each held by Ashok Rai's Janata Samajwadi Party and Upendra Yadav's Janata Samajwadi Party, the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party and Janamat Party each have three seats. Together with one independent member, the CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Janamorcha each hold one seat.

Chief Minister Mahara requires at least 44 votes from the 87-member Lumbini Provincial Assembly to secure a majority.