Nepal Maoist chief Prachanda files nomination for PM's post

Nepal Maoist chief Prachanda filed his nomination for election to the post of prime minister on 2 August.

Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba proposed the 61-year-old CPN-Maoist Centre president as the new prime ministerial candidate, while Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara seconded it.

The crucial development comes a day after Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari gave a fresh call to all political parties to form a majority government when the deadline given to them for forging consensus expired without yielding any results.

It is learnt that the Parliament has started preparation to start the procedure of electing the premier tomorrow.

Speaker Onsari Gharti has called a meeting of the 596-member Parliament for 11 am to elect the new prime minister after embattled premier K P Oli resigned on 24 July, triggering a fresh political turmoil in Nepal.

Oli tendered his resignation after two key ruling alliance partners - Madhesi People's Rights Forum and Democratic and Rastriya Prajatantra Party - decided to support the no-confidence motion tabled against him by the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-Maoist Centre led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

The Maoist chief and former premier known for his anti-India stance is expected to become Nepal's 39th Prime Minister with the support of the largest party, Nepali Congress, the Madhesis and other fringe parties if there is no dramatic development.

Three Madhesi leaders - Upendra Yadav of Social Forum- Nepal, Sarvendra Nath Shukla of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party and Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhawana Party - have supported Prachanda's candidacy.

The Madhesi alliance decided to support Prachanda's candidacy after a 3-point agreement with the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Maoist Centre) but will not join the government, Karna said.

With the support of the alliance, which has 39 lawmakers, Prachanda's election as the new prime minister has become almost certain.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has decided not to field any candidate in the prime ministerial election but vote against Prachanda. The party of outgoing Prime Minister Oli decided to remain as the main Opposition party.

--PTI