KATHMANDU: President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has initiated the process to form a new government under Article 76 (5) of the constitution.

In a statement issued by the President’s Office Thursday evening, members of the House of Representatives (HoR) who can show grounds of majority support in the parliament have been invited to form a government by 5 pm Friday.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli recommended the President to initiate the process after he himself did not see strong grounds to gain parliament’s confidence as stated by Article 76 (4). Thus, paving the way for anyone who could garner majority support, the President has called on members of political parties to come forward with their claims for new government formation.

Oli was appointed Prime Minister as per Article 76 (3) of the constitution and Artice 76 (4) requires PM to win a vote of confidence. If the PM appointed as Article 76 (3) cannot gain a vote of confidence within thirty days then the President must call on any other HoR member to stake a claim for the government.

The Cabinet held Thursday decided to recommend the President to initiate the process.

If nobody stakes claim to form government by 5 pm Friday, the country will likely go to mid-term polls as provisioned in the constitution.