Dahal registers candidacy for new Nepal PM

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has officially registered his candidacy for the post of Nepal Prime Minister, slated to be elected by the House on Wednesday.

Maoist Centre's main ally Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba proposed Dahal's name and Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara seconded the proposal, reports Kathmandu Post.

Likewise, the agitating Sanghiya Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and other parties also supported Dahal's candidacy.

The alliance decided to support Dahal's candidacy after a 3-point agreement between the NC and the Maoist Centre but won't join the government, said Sadbhawana leader Karna.

The alliance has 39 lawmakers. With the support of alliance, Dahal's election as the new Prime Minister of Nepal has become almost certain.

In the 595-member Parliament, Dahal will require 298 votes to win the election. The Maoist Centre, the third largest party with 82 seats in Parliament, has the backing of the Nepali Congress, the largest party with 207 seats.

The new Prime Minister will be chosen through a majority vote in Parliament on Wednesday after the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), the second largest party, decided to sit in the opposition and the efforts to form a consensus government became futile.