What next after PM fails the floor test?

KATHMANDU: After Prime Minister KP Oli failed the floor test today, as per article 100 (3), the PM is relieved of his office.

With the PM’s failure to garner enough votes to prove his majority in the parliament, he is said to be with two options now.

Now, as PM Oli who had been in office as the leader garnering support from two or more political parties has resigned, as per Article 76 (3)  the President can appoint the leader of the party which has the highest number of members in the House of Representatives.

However, in case of PM Oli, forming the government under this clause seems not possible unless he manages to take the disgruntled leaders led by Madhav Kumar Nepal.

More than two dozens lawmakers belonging to CPN-UML’s Nepal-Khanal faction abstained from today’s vote of confidence.

Unless party Chairman and PM Oli takes them with him, the attempts to form the majority government taking support from other parties like Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) seems futile.

In that case, Article 76 (5) can be effective as well. Article 76 (5) says: In cases where the Prime Minister appointed under clause (3) fails to obtain a vote of confidence under clause (4) and any member under clause (2) presents a ground on which he or she can obtain a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, the President shall appoint such member as the Prime Minister.