Chief minister (Nepal)

In Nepal, the chief minister (Nepali: मुख्यमन्त्री) is the elected head of government of each of the seven provinces. The chief minister is appointed by the governor of the provinces according to Article 167 of the Constitution of Nepal.[1]

Chief minister of the provinces of Nepal
नेपालका प्रदेशका मुख्यमन्त्री
StyleThe Honourable
Member ofProvincial assemblies of Nepal
ResidenceVarious
AppointerGovernor of respective provinces
Term lengthUntil majority confidence maintained in provincial assembly
Assembly term is 5 years unless dissolved earlier
No term limits
Formation2018

Following the election of the provincial assembly, the governor of each province invites the leader of the parliamentary party with a majority of the seats in the assembly to form a government. If no party has a majority, the governor invites the party with a majority with support from other parties in the assembly. The appointed chief minister must retain the confidence of the assembly and the term of such a chief minister is as long as the term of the provincial assembly of the province.

Eligibility

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The Constitution of Nepal sets the qualifications required to become eligible for the office of chief minister. A chief minister must meet the qualifications to become a member of the provincial assembly.[2]

A member of the provincial assembly must be:

  • a citizen of Nepal
  • a voter of the concerned province
  • of 25 years of age or more
  • not convicted of any criminal offense
  • not disqualified by any law
  • not holding any office of profit

In addition to this, the chief minister must be the parliamentary party leader of the party with the majority seats in the provincial assembly. If no party has a majority, the chief minister must have a majority in the assembly with the support from other parties. If within thirty days of the election, a chief minister is not appointed as such, or fails to obtain a vote of confidence from the assembly, the parliamentary party leader of the party with the most seats in the assembly is appointed chief minister. If the chief minister such appointed fails to obtain a vote of confidence in the assembly, any assembly member who can command a majority in the floor, irrespective of party allegiance, is appointed chief minister. If this chief minister also fails to obtain a vote of confidence, the governor dissolves the assembly and fresh elections are called.[3]

Incumbent chief ministers

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Map shows the parties of the Chief Ministers of states of Nepal
Province
(past chief ministers)
Name Portrait Assumed office
(tenure length)
Party Ministry Ref.
Koshi
(list)
Hikmat Kumar Karki
 
9 May 2024
(235 days)
CPN (UML) H Karki III [4]
Madhesh
(list)
Satish Kumar Singh
 
7 June 2024
(206 days)
Janamat Singh [5]
Bagmati
(list)
Bahadur Singh Lama
 
24 July 2024
(159 days)
Nepali Congress Lama [6]
Gandaki
(list)
Surendra Raj Pandey
 
29 May 2024
(215 days)
Nepali Congress Pandey II [7]
Lumbini
(list)
Chet Narayan Acharya 24 July 2024
(159 days)
CPN (UML) Acharya [8]
Karnali
(list)
Yam Lal Kandel
 
10 April 2024
(264 days)
CPN (UML) Kandel [9]
Sudurpashchim
(list)
Kamal Bahadur Shah
 
5 August 2024
(147 days)
Nepali Congress Shah II [10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Constitution of Nepal – Part 13 State Executive, Article 167". Nepal Law Commission. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  2. ^ Article 178 of the Constitution of Nepal (20 September 2015)
  3. ^ Article 168 of the Constitution of Nepal (20 September 2015)
  4. ^ "UML's Hikmat Karki appointed chief minister in Koshi". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  5. ^ "New Madhesh chief minister forms 14-member Cabinet". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Jamkattel appointed chief minister of Bagmati province". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Khagraj Adhikari appointed as Gandaki CM". My Republica. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Chet Narayan Acharya of UML appointed Lumbini chief minister". Setopati. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Karnali Chief Minister Kandel sworn in". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Unified Socialist's Sodari appointed Sudurpaschim chief minister". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 29 April 2024.