Pushpa Kamal, Nepal’s new Prime Minister, is seated next to Sher Bahadur Dur Deuba, the outgoing Prime Minster, at “Shital Niwas”, the presidential building, during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Prime minister in Kathmandu, Nepal, on December 26, 2022. Photo Credit: Reuters
In the midst of uncertainty about his support, Nepal’s new Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will seek a vote to confirm the legitimacy of the parliament’s January 10th session.
After he abruptly walked out from the pre-poll alliance headed by the Nepali Congress, and joined hands with K.P., the 68-year old CPN-Maoist Centre leader, he was sworn into office as Prime Minister for the third consecutive time on December 26. Sharma Oli.
On Monday, Nepal’s first session of Parliament began in Kathmandu following the appointment by Prime Minister Mr. Prachanda.
My Republicanewspaper reported that the Nepali Congress, the largest political party in parliament, is likely to vote for Mr. Prachanda and remain on the opposition bench.
According to the newspaper, Prime Minister Prachanda met Sher Bahadur deuba, chief of Nepali Congress, on Monday and asked for his support in Parliament.
According to the newspaper, Mr. Deuba stated that his party would decide whether or not to support the new government at the Tuesday morning parliamentary party meeting.
Purna Bahadur Khadka, NC Vice President, and Krishna Prasad Situala attended Mr. Prachanda’s meeting with Mr. Deuba.
Party insiders claimed that although an official decision will not be made by the NC’s Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday, it is possible for the party to support Mr. Prachanda while remaining on the opposition bench.
For the November 20th parliamentary election, CPN (Maoist Center), and NC had formed an electoral alliance.
After Mr. Prachanda was reportedly rejected by the NC, the Maoist Center made a surprising alliance with the CPN/UML to form a new government.
The NC has 89 legislators in the 275-member House of Representatives while the UML has only 79. CPN (Maoist Center), CPN(Unified Socialist) as well Rashtriya Swatantra Party each have 32, 10, and 20 members, respectively. Janamat Party is composed of 6 members, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party 4, and Nagarik Unmukti Party 3.
With the support of 169 lawmakers including UML, Rashtriya Swatantra Party(RSP), Janta Samajwadi Party(JSP), Janamat Party. Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janamat Party, Janamat Party, and three independent legislators, Mr. Prachanda was elected prime minister.
To continue his term in office as prime minister, Mr. Prachanda must have 138 votes from the 275-member parliament.
On Monday, Mr. Prachanda spoke to reporters and stated that he was confident of receiving a confidence vote. “I am confident that I will get a confidence vote. I also believe that the whole House will support the confidence vote.”
According to the power-sharing agreement between the UML & the Maoist Center prior to Mr. Prachanda being appointed as the new prime Minister, UML will elect its candidates as president and speaker of Congress.
According to sources, the newspaper stated that the parties had reached an agreement to keep the position of speaker for the UML’s first two-and-half years and the Maoist Center candidate for the remainder.
The vote of confidence will be followed by the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The Constitution requires that the Speaker and Deputy speaker be elected within 15 calendar days of the first meeting.
