KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Oli has submitted his claim for the post of next Prime Minister to President Bidya Devi Bhandari saying he has the support of 153 lawmakers.

Furthering the confusion on the ongoing politics, PM Oli reached at President Bhandari’s office Sheetalniwas and claimed for the post of Prime Minister of coalition government in accordance with Article 76 (5) of the Constitution.

According to sources, PM Oli submitted a letter claiming the support from UML and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) lawmakers.

The source claimed that PM Oli’s letter has been signed by JSP leader Rajendra Mahato on behalf of JSP parliamentary party and PM Oli himself as the parliamentary party leader of the ruling UML.

He has claimed the support of 121 UML and 32 JSP lawmakers.

According to sources close to the Prime Minister, Oli handed over the signature to President as the leader of the UML parliamentary party.

A few days ago, Mahanta Thakur and Rajendra Mahato’s group of JSP had elected Mahato as the leader of the parliamentary party.