House to elect Nepal PM on Wednesday as attempts for consensus govt. fail

Nepal will now choose its new Prime Minister through a majority vote in Parliament on Wednesday as the deadline given by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to form a consensus government expired on Sunday.

After Communist Party of Nepal (UML), the second largest party, decided to sit in the opposition; the efforts to form the government became futile. The parties will now go for a vote in the House to elect the new Premier.

According to the Constitution, the parties first make an effort to install a national consensus government, bringing together at least the major parties and if that cannot be achieved then the House elects the new Prime Minister based on majority votes.

Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is said to be the PM-in-waiting, in a meeting with President Bhandari yesterday said that it was impossible to form a unity government.

There was no need to extend the deadline for forming a consensus government, the leaders told the head of state. The President then said that she would instruct the House to elect the new Prime Minister on the basis of majority.

Dahal has the backing of the Nepali Congress, the largest party, to form a government and the Madhesi Morcha has also pledged its support.

The Parliament will form a panel headed by its general secretary to hold the poll before nominations are called on Tuesday.

The vote will take place on Wednesday and the Prime minister would be elected the same day.