Nepal PM to step down by May 24

With the successful conclusion of the first phase of local polls, Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is expected to resign by May 24.

"We are in internal discussions and preparations regarding the date for resignation. Prime Minister will resign not later by Wednesday and we will support the Nepali Congress for the formation of new government if the attempt to form a government on consensus fails," CPN-Maoist Centre Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal told ANI.

There is wide spread speculation and doubt that the CPN- Maoist Center will betray the Nepali Congress if the opposition CPN- UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) leaves the post of Mayor of Bharatpur to the Maoist Center.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's daughter Renu Dahal is vying for the post of mayor.

It is said that the CPN-Maoist Center will endorse CPN-UML candidate Bamdev Gautam, former minister for home affairs in theK P Oli led cabinet, as next Prime Minister.

Yhis was rejected Maoist Center Spokesperson Bhusal, who claimed that Maoist Center will support a Nepali Congress led government.

"Whatever the talks about the agreement for the exchange of post of Bharatpur Mayor post for Maoist Center with the post of Prime Minister for CPN-UML is false. Maoist Center will go with the government formed under the leadership of Nepali Congress and there is no doubt that we will support Nepali Congress in forming new government," Bhusal stressed.

The Nepali Congress, however, doubts the Maoist Center is fullyon the score.

"The talk about endorsing UML candidate Bamdev Gautam as Prime Minister by Maoist Center is heard. We cannot rely fully on the party as it has a bad performance in past regarding the support," a close aide of the NC leadership said.

The change of leadership puts a question mark over the budget and Constitution Amendment.

The Election Code of Conduct bars the government from introducing new plans in the budget, as the second phase of local body elections is scheduled to take place in three weeks time.

"This government is set to introduce the budget which will not have new plans and strategies, but will cover expenses of immediate need. There will be no new features and programs in it," Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ajay Shankar Nayak said.

"The change in the government will not affect the second phase local election. About concerns over the demand of agitating parties, they also will come to consensus and take part in the election as they also are aware that the government cannot complete a constitutional provision of gaining a two- third majority," he added.

After the resignation of Prime Minister Dahal it is estimated that it will take over two weeks for Nepal to get a new Prime Minister and Cabinet.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will call upon all the parties to form a consensus if there is a failure to form a new government on the basis of majority.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to be the next Premier of Nepal.