Kathmandu: Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday called on all the political parties of Nepal to form a new government within seven days, as PM Sher Bahadur Deuba discussed power sharing deal with the coalition partner Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. The president’s call came after the Election Commission submitted the final results of the elections held on November 20. No party in the 275-member House of Representatives won 138 seats required to form a government. Parties that can garner a majority can submit claim until 5 pm on December 25, the president’s office said.
The Nepali Congress (NC) led by Deuba emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats followed by opposition CPN-UML with 78 seats and CPN-Maoist Centre led by Prachanda secured 32 seats. The Nepali Congress along with the other ruling alliances has the combined strength of 136 seats, two seats short of forming the majority government.
The president’s call to form the new government comes at a time when political parties have engaged themselves in hectic consultations. Deuba met Prachanda at the PM’s official residence Baluwatar on Saturday and discussed formation of the new government and power sharing among others, according to party sources. According to a report in the Kathmandu Post newspaper, Nepali Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said Prachanda in his meeting with Deuba has formally sought his support to become PM in the first half of the five-year term. While forging an electoral alliance ahead of the November 20 polls, Deuba and Prachanda had reportedly struck a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ on leading the government by turns.
Mahat said while Prachanda's proposal was to be expected, it would be more natural for the Nepali Congress, as the largest party to emerge from the elections, to lead the government. Deuba has not given any definite answer to Prachanda, a source told The Kathmandu Post newspaper.