Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who has been politically embattled after his ally, the CPN-UML, joined hands with the Nepali Congress, has decided to face a vote of confidence in parliament rather than resigning immediately.
A meeting of Maoist leaders held in Baluwatar on Tuesday decided that Prime Minister Dahal will face parliament within 30 days, as per the constitution of Nepal, said Maoist secretary Devendra Paudel.
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.
In the power-sharing deal, the CPN-UML has agreed to lead nine ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, while the Nepali Congress will lead ten ministries, including the Ministry of Home Affairs. Likewise, the CPN-UML will lead governments in Koshi, Lumbini, and Karnali, while the Congress will lead in Bagmati, Gandaki, and Sudurpaschim. The Madesh government will be led by a regional party.
In March, the current coalition of CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) was formed after Prime Minister Dahal announced the disbanding of the year-long coalition with the Nepali Congress (NC) to form new allies.
Despite contesting the November 2022 elections in alliance with the NC, Dahal formed a government with the support of the CPN-UML and other smaller parties. That alliance lasted barely two months before Dahal left the coalition to join hands with the Nepali Congress.
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