Nepal's Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, widely known as 'Prachanda', emerged victorious in a crucial vote of confidence held in Parliament. The nation, nestled in the Himalayas, has been grappling with political uncertainty fueled by frequent shifts in alliances.
Prachanda, a seasoned leader and former guerrilla commander hailing from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), clinched 157 votes out of the 275-member lower house. With a total of 268 lawmakers present, 110 voted against him, while one abstained. This marked Prachanda's third vote of confidence since assuming office in December 2022, requiring at least 138 votes for victory.
Amidst jubilation from members of the ruling coalition, Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire officially declared the Prime Minister's success.
The confidence vote follows Prachanda's recent move to part ways with the Nepali Congress and forge a fresh alliance with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML). Such political realignments are mandated by constitutional provisions when a ruling coalition loses support from an ally. Notably, the Nepali Congress holds the largest share of seats in the House of Representatives.
Prachanda's new coalition partner, the CPN-UML led by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, signifies a significant political shift, given Oli's previous criticism of Prachanda. Oli emphasized that the new alliance addresses issues within the prior coalition, asserting their support for the Prime Minister's agenda.
Having assumed office for the third time on December 25, 2022, Prachanda's leadership has weathered turbulent times, including a prior floor test last year following the withdrawal of support from CPN-UML over differences in backing a presidential candidate.
The ongoing political maneuvering underscores Nepal's dynamic landscape, where alliances are formed and dissolved swiftly, reshaping the political terrain. The Kathmandu Post editorializes on the endemic nature of such changes, noting the historical oscillation of power among the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Maoist Centre.
Looking ahead, the editorial speculates on the durability of the CPN-UML's commitment to fostering stability and economic progress, anticipating the inevitable trials that lie ahead in Nepal's political journey.
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