17th run-off likely on Jan 12

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
prime ministerial polling

KATHMANDU: The 17th prime ministerial run-off is likely to take place on January 12, according to Parliament sources.

The winter session of the Parliament is due to commence on January 9 and Speaker Subas Nembang is likely to announce the date for prime ministerial polling on that very day, added sources.

Speaker Nembang is learnt to have already intimated his plan for prime ministerial polling to the concerned party leaders.

Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ramchandra Paudel is the sole candidate in the prime ministerial race. The Parliament earlier went into voting 16 times but invariably failed to elect the new prime minister. The 17th round was shelved after the government prorogued the House on November 19 following a budget presentation fiasco.

Parliament sources told THT that Paudel would be left with no option but to pull out if he were defeated in the House. “It is politically appropriate to quit the race once the House defeats him by a majority of vote,” said the source. Even NC stalwarts are contemplating that Paudel should quit if he loses. As of now, it is highly likely that Paudel will fail to garner enough votes in his favour in the wake of CPN-UML’s decision to vote against him.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has intensified parleys with top leaders of the major political parties on peace and constitution-drafting processes and government formation.

Speaker Nembang met Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal yesterday and today. “The peace process is not directly linked with the Parliament and the Constituent Assembly,” said Nembang. “But the government formation and constitution-drafting processes revolve around it.” He has asked the leaders to be clear about the future of the peace process after UNMIN’s departure.