New PM's Overwhelming Mandate

CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s third innings as Prime Minister has got off to a flying start after securing overwhelming vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. PM Prachanda’s party emerged third from the recent general elections but he dramatically mustered the support of 268 lawmakers in the 275-member House. What is more interesting is that Nepali Congress, the largest party in the parliament, also voted for Prachanda in a dramatic turn of events, which has stunned all - supporters as well as detractors of the current coalition government. Prachanda has become a powerful Prime Minister representing a ‘weak’ party.