After facing multiple attempts to seek a vote of confidence, Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's coalition government has finally fallen as he lost the floor test in the House of Representatives. With only 63 lawmakers supporting him, far below the required 138 votes, Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire officially announced the rejection of Dahal's motion for trust. This comes after the withdrawal of support from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and an agreement between the CPN-UML and the main opposition Nepali Congress to form a new coalition government.
Political Turmoil in Nepal: PM Dahal Resigns After Losing Vote of Confidence
Nepal's political landscape has been shaken after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, resigned following his failure to secure a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. The resignation marks a significant shift in the country's political dynamics and raises questions about the future of the coalition government.
Background:
Prachanda, a former rebel leader, became Prime Minister for the third time in December 2022 after leading a coalition of seven parties, including the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) and the Maoist Centre, which he chairs. However, the coalition faced challenges from the outset. The CPN-UML, led by former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, had grown increasingly dissatisfied with Prachanda's leadership and had demanded his resignation.
Loss of Support and Vote of Confidence:
In February 2023, the CPN-UML withdrew its support from the coalition government, accusing Prachanda of violating their agreement to share power equitably. This left the government with only 98 lawmakers, well short of the 138 votes required for a majority in the 275-member House of Representatives.
Faced with the loss of support, Prachanda decided to seek a vote of confidence to prove his majority and stay in power. However, the vote held on February 9, 2023, proved disastrous for the Prime Minister. With only 63 lawmakers supporting him, Prachanda lost the vote by a wide margin.
Resignation and Aftermath:
Following the vote, Prachanda submitted his resignation to President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who accepted it. The resignation has paved the way for a new coalition government to be formed. The CPN-UML and the main opposition Nepali Congress have already reached an agreement to work together and form a new government.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers:
1. Who is Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)? Prachanda is a former rebel leader and three-time Prime Minister of Nepal. He is the chairman of the Maoist Centre, a political party that emerged from the country's decade-long civil war.
2. Why did Prachanda lose the vote of confidence? Prachanda lost the vote of confidence after the CPN-UML withdrew its support from the coalition government. This left the government short of the majority required to pass the vote.
3. Who will form the new government? The CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress have agreed to form a new coalition government. They are expected to choose a new Prime Minister in the coming days.
4. What are the implications of Prachanda's resignation? Prachanda's resignation has created political instability in Nepal and raised questions about the future of the country's coalition government model. It also signals a shift in the power dynamics between the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre.
5. What is the significance of the CPN-UML's withdrawal of support? The CPN-UML's withdrawal of support is a major development in Nepalese politics. It suggests that the party is no longer willing to work with Prachanda and is determined to assert its dominance in the coalition.
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