Futile PM vote continues, 11th round Wednesday

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Oct 6: The legislature-parliament failed for the 10th time to elect a new prime minister Monday, with sole candidate for the post Ram Chandra Poudel falling short of a majority in the current 598-member House.

Poudel, who is the candidate of the Nepali Congress (NC), received 109 votes with one vote against. Of the 156 lawmakers participating in the voting, 46 stayed neutral.

UCPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Nepal (MPRF-N) did not participate in the voting though they were seated in the meeting hall. Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Sadbahvana Party (SP) chose to remain neutral.

With the withdrawal of his candidacy by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Poudel has remained the sole candidate in the prime ministerial race. Despite widespread pressure to withdraw and seek a consensus, Poudel remains determined to fight on.

11th round on Thursday

Parliament´s Business Advisory Committee (BAC) Wednesday decided to hold the 11th round of voting on Thursday, just a day after the 10th round, even though the BAC was sure voting would again be futile.

At the meeting, the Maoists demanded that parliament hold a vote every day if Poudel does not agree to withdraw his candidacy and choose to go for “consensus-based politics”.

“Poudel turned down our request to pull out of the race. So what can we do other than religiously follow the election procedure?” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.

However, the NC stated that the party would withdraw its candidacy if the Maoists are ready to strike a package deal that includes management of the Maoist combatants, agreement on the contents of the new constitution, and return of all property seized by the Maoists.

“We wanted the next round of voting to be held only after the Tihar festival, but that could not happen as Maoist leader Dev Gurung spoke ´threateningly´ and demanded the next round be held the very next day,” said Chure Bhavar Yekata Samaj leader Keshav Prasad Mainali.

Though the Maoist demand was meant to humiliate Poudel through repeated defeats, the latter has remained adamant in his decision. “The process will not end until there is a solution,” said Poudel, adding that if all the lawmakers chose to vote, the country would get its new prime minister.

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