KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala held a meeting on Saturday morning.
The meeting, seen as significant in the political landscape, comes in the context of the changing political scenario and PM Dahal’s decision to seek a vote of confidence in Parliament instead of resigning after losing his majority.
Dr. Koirala confirmed the meeting but urged to view it as a routine interaction.
Sources close to PM Dahal indicated that his decision to seek confidence votes to potentially facilitate the formation of a government under the leadership of President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, as per Article 76(3) of the Constitution, following his potential defeat.
With Dahal preparing to seek a vote of confidence on July 12, his meeting with an influential NC leader like Koirala holds particular significance.
The situation necessitated the Prime Minister to seek a vote of confidence after the coalition partner, CPN-UML, withdrew its support and eight UML ministers resigned.
Additionally, three ministers from the Ashok Rai-led Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) also withdrew their support and resigned from their positions.
Furthermore, when four ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), attempted to resign, Prime Minister Dahal requested them to continue their support for the current government.
Prime Minister Dahal is reportedly in discussions with other leaders, preparing for the possibility of proposing Deuba as the Prime Minister if he fails to secure the vote of confidence.
Koirala had remarked on Friday that it was premature to celebrate the new political alignment.
He expressed a desire to avoid invoking Article 76(3) of the Constitution if incumbent Prime Minister fails to win the vote of confidence without resigning first.
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