Kathmandu: The CPN-UML has decided to withdraw its support from the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government.
A meeting of the party on Wednesday decided to withdraw support as Prime Minister Dahal is reluctant to step down, despite the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML joining hands to form a new government, according to Mahesh Bartaula, chief whip of the CPN-UML.
A meeting of the party’s secretariat held on Tuesday requested PM Dahal to step down. However, PM Dahal decided not to resign and will instead face a confidence vote in parliament.
“He [PM Dahal] had to step down when the two largest parties in parliament decided to form a new political alliance. As he is reluctant, the CPN-UML will withdraw its support. Likewise, we will also recall ministers of the CPN-UML from the Dahal-led cabinet,” Bartaula said.
According to Article 100 (2) of the constitution, if the political party that the prime minister represents is divided or if a political party in a coalition government withdraws its support, the prime minister must table a motion in the House of Representatives for a vote of confidence within 30 days.
On Monday, in a new twist of political events, the two largest parties in parliament—the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML—decided to form a new alliance, with the latter’s chair, KP Sharma Oli, leading the government. With this new development, KP Sharma Oli is set to be appointed prime minister for the third time. Oli will lead the government for the next one and a half years, while Congress chair Sher Bahadur Deuba will become prime minister for another one and a half years.
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