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KP Sharma Oli is the new prime minister of Nepal

KP Sharma Oli, the CPN-UML chair, has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal for the fourth time, marking his return to power after three years.

Photo: Balkot/Facebook

Kathmandu: KP Sharma Oli, the CPN-UML chair, has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal for the fourth time, marking his return to power after three years.

The appointment was made by President Ram Chandra Paudel on Sunday, as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, according to a statement issued by the Office of the President. The oath-taking ceremony for the Prime Minister will be held on Monday at 11 am.

Oli, 72, first served as Prime Minister from October 2015 until August 2016, then from February 2018 to May 2021, and briefly from May 2021 to July 2021. His last term ended on July 12, 2021, when the Supreme Court reinstating the lower house, ordered then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari to appoint Congress chair Sher Bahadur Deuba as the head of the government.

During his previous tenure, Oli dissolved the House of Representatives twice—in December 2020 and in May 2021—only for both dissolutions to be overturned by the Supreme Court.

These actions were labeled a coup by top leaders including Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba and Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

Oli’s return follows the recent failure of Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to secure a trust vote in the House on Friday. Following this, the chiefs of the two largest parties—Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—reached Sheetal Niwas, with Oli staking a claim to form the government. The combined strength of both parties in the lower house is 166 seats.

As per the constitution, a candidate needs the support of 138 lawmakers in the 275-member House of Representatives to become Prime Minister. Oli has secured this majority with backing from lawmakers of the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress. Likewise, fringe parties including the Janata Samajwadi Party, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, Janamat Party, and Nagarik Unmukti Party are also in discussion to support the government.

In a power-sharing arrangement, Oli and Deuba have agreed to rotate the prime ministerial position. Oli will lead the government for the next two years, followed by Deuba for the subsequent one and a half years before the general election in 2027.

In the power-sharing arrangement within the cabinet, the Nepali Congress will secure a maximum of 10 ministries, while the CPN-UML will receive 9 ministries, including the position of Prime Minister. Prakash Man Singh from the Nepali Congress will lead his party in the cabinet, serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management. Arzu Deuba will be appointed as Foreign Minister, and Ramesh Lekhak will take on the role of Home Minister.

From the CPN-UML, Bishnu Prasad Paudel will become Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. Leaders from both parties are still discussing the assignments for the remaining ministerial positions, with a decision expected by tomorrow morning. Also, leaders from fringe parties will also be allocated ministerial positions, which are yet to be finalized, they say.