Lone candidate in deadlocked Nepal PM poll withdraws

The lone candidate in Nepal's deadlocked prime ministerial poll withdrew his candidature today ahead of the 17th round of voting.

Updated on: Jan 13, 2011, 24:49:11 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The lone candidate in Nepal's deadlocked prime ministerial poll withdrew his candidature on Wednesday ahead of the 17th round of voting.

Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel stepped aside from the contest after opposition Maoists and ruling coalition partner Communist Party of Nepal (UML) refused to defer polling till Thursday.

A formal announcement regarding Poudel's withdrawal was made in parliament late on Wednesday evening by NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba after the party's central committee agreed to the move.

"Keeping the requests made by other parties in mind, I decided to withdraw to forge consensus on government formation and speed up peace process and constitution drafting," Poudel told media persons.

Poudel's withdrawal has paved way for a fresh process to elect the next prime minister. Parliament's business advisory committee will decide the next process on Thursday.

Nepal has been without an effective government since June 30 last year after Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned. Sixteen rounds of voting in parliament have failed to elect a new prime minister.

Earlier in the day, Nepali Congress sought deferral of the 17th round of voting till Thursday. But with Maoists and CPN (UML) refusing to entertain the request, it decided to withdraw Poudel's candidature.

With NC agreeing to the Maoist and CPN (UML) demand regarding Poudel's withdrawal, there's hope of the three major parties reaching consensus on power sharing.

Sources say that all three major parties are likely to head the government on a rotational basis till completion of the peace process and drafting of the new constitution.

Nepal's PM race started with three candidates, but CPN (UML) chief Jhalanath Khanal withdrew before the first round of voting and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal retired after few rounds.

Since constitutional provisions stipulate unending rounds of voting till a winner emerges or the last remaining candidate withdraws, Poudel remained in contest despite no chance of winning.

With Maoists, CPN (UML) and prominent Madhesi parties abstaining from voting, Poudel couldn't garner the support of 300 lawmakers needed to register a win.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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