Biratnagar, April 8 -- As many as 39 UML lawmakers, who had previously supported Chief Minister Kedar Karki during the floor test, withdrew their support on Monday.

They conveyed their withdrawal of support to Provincial Head Parshuram Khapung and requested him to appoint Hikmat Karki, the UML provincial assembly leader, as the chief minister.

"We, the 39 provincial assembly members, met with the province head and the Speaker and conveyed the decision to withdraw our support," said UML chief whip Rewati Raman Bhandari.

UML claims that the chief minister now needs to secure a vote of confidence to save his government, as per Article 188(2) of the Constitution. The Article states, if the political party which the chief minister represent...