Nepal's Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, clinched his third vote of confidence within a span of 14 months on Wednesday.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced that PM Prachanda secured 157 votes in his favor, with 110 lawmakers casting their votes against him.
According to the Parliament secretariat, out of the total 275 members, 268 were present during the voting process.
Prachanda garnered support from the UML, Rashtriya Swatantra Party, CPN (Unified Socialist), and several independent lawmakers.
Earlier, Prachanda parted ways with the Nepali Congress and forged a new alliance with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) and other political factions.
Assuming office as Nepal’s Prime Minister in December 2022, Prachanda initially secured support from CPN-UML, but his alliance shifted within two months when he aligned with the Nepali Congress.
In March 2023, Prachanda garnered his second vote of confidence with the backing of the Nepali Congress, appointing a minister from the party. However, this partnership was short-lived, lasting barely a year.
In early March, Prachanda severed ties with the Nepali Congress, realigning with the UML and other parties, which some view as a pro-Beijing coalition.
UML Chairman K P Oli emphasized that China played no part in the recent government reshuffle in Kathmandu, dismissing speculation of Chinese involvement akin to 2018.
During the House of Representatives meeting, Prachanda underscored the importance of securing the confidence vote to bolster the economy and address political instability.
"I rely on the parliament's support to foster a sense of national pride, self-esteem, and sovereignty. I assure esteemed parliamentarians of the launch of numerous new startups and entrepreneurial ventures. Our focus will be on achieving self-reliance through systematic endeavors," the Prime Minister affirmed.
He highlighted the restoration of public trust in democracy through initiatives promoting good governance. "Efforts to enhance citizens' confidence in the state will be prioritized through efficient public service delivery and good governance practices," Prachanda affirmed.
