President Bidya Devi Bhandari asked the political parties on Monday to elect a new Prime Minister by a majority vote, after the parties failed to meet the deadline to form a consensus government.
President Bhandari had given a one-week deadline to elect a new Prime Minister, which ended on Sunday. However, the parties could not forge a consensus to form a new government within the stipulated time frame.
President Bhandari sent a letter to the Parliament Secretariat on Monday morning to commence the necessary process. Speaker of the Parliament Onsari Gharti Magar read out the President’s letter during the parliamentary session held today.
As per the parliamentary procedure, the Parliament Secretariat will publish an election timeline today and parties will field their candidates for the post of Prime Minister on Tuesday. The election will be held on Wednesday.
Chairman of CPN (Maoist-Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal is all set to become the new Prime Minister with the backing of the Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House. The Madhesi parties have also extended their support to Dahal.
After the CPN (Maoist-Centre) withdrew its support from the government, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned from his post on 24 July. Oli stepped down before a no-confidence motion was voted upon in Parliament, which he was likely to lose.