The picturesque Himalayan nation of Nepal is currently navigating through a tumultuous political strait. Today, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is gearing up for a confidence vote set to unfold within the parliament's chambers come Friday. The odds seem stacked against him, with the Nepalese Congress head, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli rallying their parliamentarians with directives to vote in opposition to Prachanda, simultaneously initiating talks to form a new government.
Prachanda’s bid to secure his government hinges on winning a trust vote with at least 138 seats, against a grim projection of only securing 63 votes. This seems to spell an almost certain downfall for the current administration during the floor test.
Counting Parliamentary Might
Following a power-sharing agreement with the largest party in Nepal's lower house, Oli’s CPN-UML has distanced itself from the current ruling coalition, leaving Prachanda's Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) with a mere 32 seats against the Nepalese Congress's 89 and CPN-UML’s 78 seats. The Nepalese Congress and CPN-UML coalition now enjoy the combined strength of 167 seats.
A Return to Power for Deuba and Oli's Alliance?
In the 275-member lower house of Nepal's parliament, forging a government requires the backing of 138 members. With the Nepalese Congress and CPN-UML alliance wielding 167 members, expectations are starting to build around a potential comeback for Deuba and Oli in power. According to their arrangement, Oli and Deuba are set to rotate the Prime Minister's office between them over the course of three years.
Nepalese Congress and CPN-UML Issue Whips
Concurrently, the Nepalese Congress has issued a whip to their parliamentarians, commanding presence and votes against Prime Minister Prachanda in the upcoming session. CPN-UML has executed a similar strategy with their whip.
