With no consensus among parties, Nepal to vote for its next prime minister

KATHMANDU: With the expiry of a deadline given by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari for formation of a new government based on consensus, Nepal is set to elect its

KATHMANDU: With the expiry of a deadline given by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari for formation of a new government based on consensus, Nepal is set to elect its new prime minister based on majority votes.

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A voting will be held in Parliament on Wednesday to elect the new premier in the wake of the second largest party Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) deciding to sit in opposition. The results of the election will be out on the same day.

The parliament will form a panel headed by secretary general of the House to hold the elections and call for nomination from candidates on Tuesday.

According to the Constitution of Nepal, parties should make an effort to form a national consensus government, bringing on board at least the major parties in the House. If the process fails, a new government will be installed based on majority votes.

The president decided on the election after holding a meeting without going PMKP Oli, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, PM-in-waiting Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar. Prachanda, chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre), said it was impossible to install a government based on national consensus.