UML-NC to form government under K P Oli, Prachanda refuses to step aside

Kathmandu – KP Oli, Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, is all set to succeed Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ as the new Prime Minister, but its formalisation may still take some time as Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal has decided to seek a vote of confidence in parliament instead of quitting right away.

A deal inked mid night at Shital Niwas between NC chief Sher Bahadur Deuba and KP Oli at Shital Niwas, not only culminated in UML withdrawing the support to the Prachanda led government, it also said that Oli will be the new Prime Minister with the NC and the UML as the new coalition partner.

Prachanda announced after the meeting of the Maoist central secretariat this morning that he would not resign as asked by Oli yesterday, and rather face parliament for a vote of confidence where he is certain to lose.

The UML-NC deal also pledges to form a constitution review committee under the leadership of former Supreme court Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha , mainly to deal with the electoral system (mainly the proportional representation aspect) as well as the federal structure in the constitution. While Oli will head the first half of the remaining 32 months of the life of parliament, he will pave the way for Deuba who will also be conducting the next general election.

As per the deal, while the NC will get home and other ten ministries, the UML will have finance and other nine ministries. Prachanda said after the secretariat meeting that it was regressive step and he is not going to surrender outright.

Oli during his meeting with Prime Minister yesterday, had asked him to pave the way for the new political equation and join the government. The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, also decided not to join the new government .

According to Santosh Pariyar, Chief whip of the party, it will sit in the opposition. In view of the new developments , it has asked its ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane and others , to resign immediately, Pariyar said.