A new alliance led by CPN (UML) has struck a deal to form a new government under the leadership of CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
A meeting of the five parties – Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Janata Samajbadi Party (RSP) and UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party – held at Balkot on Sunday afternoon reached an agreement to make Prachanda the new prime Minister.
According to the agreement, Prachanda will take the helm of the government for the first half of the five-year term.
Barsha Man Pun, deputy general secretary of the Maoist Center, said they will stake claim for the new government before 5 pm today.
The UML has 78 MPs, Maoist Center 32, RSP 20, RPP 14, JSP 12 MPs in the Lower House. The support of 138 MPs is needed to form a government in the 275-member House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Janamat Party led by CK Raut and Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) have also decided to lend support to the new alliance. These two parties have six and four lawmakers, respectively. If combined, the alliance will command a majority with 166 lawakers.
The deadline given by the President to stake claim for a new government is expiring at 5 pm today.
