Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is set to take a vote of confidence in the first meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) slated for January 9, 2023.
PM Prachanda recommended President Bidya Devi Bhandari to summon the first meeting of the HoR after the conclusion of the November 20 parliamentary elections through a cabinet meeting held on Monday evening.
On the recommendation of PM Prachanda-led government, President Bhandari on Tuesday called the HoR meeting for 1 pm January 9.
According to a source close to PM Prachanda, the government is forwarding preparations to take the vote of confidence in HoR on the same day.
Constitutional provision bars political parties to register a vote of no confidence for the next two years after the government secures a vote of confidence within a month of government formation.
CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Prachanda was appointed the Prime Minister by President Bhandari pursuant to Article 76 (2) of the constitution on Sunday after he staked claim for the top executive post with the support of 169 MPs.
MPs from the CPN (UML), the Maoist Center, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), the Janamat Party, the Nagarik Unmukti Party and three independents backed the Maoist Center chair for Prime Minister.
Accordingly, PM Prachanda is bound to secure a vote of confidence from the HoR within a month.
"In view of recent political developments, preparation is underway to take the vote of confidence in the first HoR meeting scheduled for January 9," the source told Nepalkhabar.
PM Prachanda's team is of the view that delay in securing trust vote could lead to newer developments.
Till Jan 9, PM Prachanda is to finalize allocation of ministries and powerful positions among the parties backing him.
A meeting of the newfound coalition has been called for Wednesday (today).
UML Deputy General Secretary Bishnu Rimal has said that the ruling parties would finalize allocation of ministries and other important positions till the HoR meeting take places. "We will finalize power sharing within a week," he said.
Minister Rajendra Rai shared that the coalition would today finalize allocation of portfolios of ministers whose departmental portfolios are yet to be decided. In the eight-member Council of Minister formed on Monday, some minister are still without portfolios.
UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held talks on the matter with Deputy PM and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, and Deputy PM and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane, last (Tuesday) evening.
Likewise, a meeting between Finance Minister Paudel and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal also took place last evening.
During the meeting, Minister Paudel urged leader Nepal to support the newfound alliance and join the government.
