📷 Image Credits: The Hindu
In the recent political turmoil in Nepal, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, famously known as Prachanda, has chosen not to step down from his position despite an agreement between the leading parties in the country to establish a new coalition government. Instead of resigning, Prachanda has opted to face a vote of confidence in Parliament. This decision was revealed during a meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) office-bearers in Baluwatar, where the party Secretary Ganesh Shah confirmed Prachanda’s stance. The 69-year-old Prime Minister, who has previously won three votes of confidence during his term, expressed his willingness to seek a vote of confidence rather than resign. The recent power-sharing deal between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli aimed to form a new ‘national consensus government’ to replace the existing coalition led by Prachanda. The Nepali Congress holds 89 seats in the House of Representatives, while CPN-UML has 78 seats. The combined strength of these parties, totaling 167 seats, constitutes a majority in the 275-member HoR. Deuba and Oli have agreed to share the Prime Ministerial position on a rotational basis for the remainder of the Parliament’s term. Despite efforts to salvage the current coalition government through discussions between Prachanda and Oli, they were unsuccessful. Prachanda raised concerns about a conspiracy to destabilize the government and induce chaos in the country, especially at a time when the focus should be on combating corruption and promoting good governance. As per constitutional provisions, the Prime Minister has a 30-day window to seek a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, allowing room for political negotiations. Prachanda expressed intentions to engage with various parties like the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress, and CPN-UML to maintain the coalition. Meanwhile, the RSP, a significant coalition partner, declined to partake in the new alliance formed by the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, deciding to withdraw from the current government. With 13 governments in the last 16 years, Nepal’s political system reflects a fragile state of affairs, emphasizing the need for stability and strong governance.
