Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, is preparing to seek a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives on Monday. This move comes amid ongoing disruptions in Parliament caused by the opposition Nepali Congress.
Dasharath Dhamala, assistant spokesperson of the House of Representatives, stated that the prime minister is invoking Article 100, clause 2 of the Nepalese Constitution. This clause mandates a vote of confidence within 30 days if a coalition member withdraws support or if the party represented by the prime minister splits. Last week, the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) withdrew its support and left the coalition government, necessitating this vote.
The prime minister’s office and the Council of Ministers have already sent a formal notice to the Parliament Secretariat regarding this matter. Prachanda needs 138 votes out of the 175-member House of Representatives to pass the confidence vote.
Prachanda, who took office on December 25, 2022, will be facing his fourth vote of confidence in less than two years. Despite the political challenges, he expressed confidence in his government’s stability at a ruling party event in Kathmandu on Saturday. “There is no doubt that my government will survive the floor test,” he asserted, emphasizing that differences with the opposition parties would be resolved through dialogue.
The current political climate in Nepal is marked by tensions between the ruling alliance and opposition parties. The major political parties have agreed to establish a panel to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds by cooperatives. The Nepali Congress has been obstructing parliamentary proceedings for a week, demanding an inquiry into a cooperative scam allegedly involving Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane.
As Prachanda seeks another vote of confidence, the political landscape in Nepal remains fraught with challenges. The outcome of this vote will be crucial for the stability of the current government and the broader political environment in the country.
