Prachanda ditches Deuba, likely to be new PM third time

Armed with the support of 166 parliamentarians, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chief of the Maoist Centre, is all set to be the new Prime Minister of the country upsetting the ambition of Nepali congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba.

In a day of fast moving political developments –not all of them transparent–Prachanda submitted a list of 166 members from seven parties including his own, shortly after he had announced his break-away from the Deuba led alliance.

The most decisive act turning the political apple cart was played by Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist which decided to settle for president’s against Prachanda taking over as the Prime Minister, third time since 2008.

Interestingly, the Pro-Monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party,  Rsastriya Swatamtra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party and the Janamat Party together pulling 166 pledged their support to the new government.

The new alliance partners have asked the president’s office to invite Prachanda to form the government and administer oath of office and secrecy at the earliest, possibly tonight itself immediately after the deadline she had set for staking the claim is over.