Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal faced a significant setback as he lost a vote of confidence in parliament on Friday after the largest party in his coalition government withdrew its support, which would now force him to step down from office after 19 months in power.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal failed to secure the support of more than half of the members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, needed to win the vote. With only 63 votes in his favor and 194 members voting against him, he did not achieve the majority required to hold on to power.
Following the announcement of the vote results, Parliament Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire confirmed Dahal’s loss and his subsequent transition to lead a caretaker government until a new one is formed. Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel will oversee the process of political parties proposing new government formations in response to the parliament’s decision.
The downfall of Dahal came after his main ally, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), decided to withdraw their support and joined hands with the Nepali Congress to form a new alliance. The new alliance has designated Khadga Prasad Oli, the leader of the communist party, as the new prime minister.
Despite the political instability that has characterized Nepal in recent years, the change in leadership is seen as a potential opportunity for much-needed stability. However, concerns remain about the longevity of the new partnership between the two largest parties and the potential for future confusion and chaos in the government.
Dahal, also known as Prachanda, has a history of leadership in Nepal, having been involved in a violent Maoist communist insurgency from 1996 to 2006. Since then, he has been a key figure in Nepali politics, facing challenges within his coalition partners throughout his tenure as prime minister.
