KATHMANDU: In a dramatic turn of events, the Maoist Center took the side of CPN-UML breaking the five-party alliance at the eleventh hour to make a new political equation.

The seven parties held a meeting at UML Chairman KP Oli’s Balkot-based residence and decided to make Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda the Prime Minister.

A total of 138 seats are required to form the government.

Prachanda succeeded in garnering the support of parliamentarians, including 78 from CPN-UML, 32 from the Maoist Center, 20 from Rastriya Swatantra Party, 14 from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, 12 from the Janta Samajwadi Party, 6 from Janamat Party, 4 from the Nagarik Unmukti Party, and 3 independent MPs.

Prachanda furnished his official claim before the President for the post of prime minister.

Prachanda submitted the names of the parliamentarians to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday evening – meeting the deadline given by the President to name a consensus prime ministerial candidate.

According to sources, Prachanda has agreed to lead the government for the next two and a half years.

Likewise, UML will take the leadership of the government for another two-and-a-half years.