Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Seeks Vote of Confidence After Coalition Change

Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as ‘Prachanda,’ will seek a vote of confidence on July 12, 2024. This decision follows a recent change in his coalition government.

The Prime Minister’s coalition partner, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), left the government earlier this week. As a result, Dahal now leads a minority government and must seek a vote of confidence within 30 days, as required by the Constitution of Nepal.

Govinda Acharya, the Prime Minister’s Press Advisor, confirmed that the Parliament Secretariat has been informed about the vote. Dahal’s decision aligns with Article 100 (2) of the Constitution, which mandates a vote of confidence if a coalition partner withdraws support.

On July 3, the CPN-UML formally exited the government, leading to the resignation of all eight UML ministers. The Nepali Congress, with 88 seats, now holds the most seats in the 275-member house, followed by the CPN-UML with 79 seats. Dahal’s Maoist Center has 32 seats.

In less than 20 months in power, Dahal has faced four votes of confidence. His first vote of confidence in November 2022 saw him secure 268 out of 270 votes. Subsequent votes in March and May 2023 also saw him retain his position, though with fewer votes each time.

Dahal was appointed Prime Minister on December 25, 2022, by then-President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, after showing the support of 169 lawmakers. According to the Constitution, a Prime Minister must secure a vote of confidence within 30 days of their appointment.