Monumental Mandate

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Tuesday won a historic mandate in the House of Representatives (HoR) to lead the seven-party coalition government. PM Prachanda secured 268 votes in 275-member HoR during the vote of confidence. Out of 271 lawmakers who were present in the House, 268 voted for Prachanda. Only two lawmakers – Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha and Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers and Peasant Party cast their vote against him. Prachanda is a second prime minister after late Manamohan Adhikari to receive the support of overwhelming members of parliament. Adhikari had garnered the votes of all lawmakers (198) present in the vote of confidence in 205-member House in 2051 B.S. In addition to the votes of the ruling alliance, Premier Prachanda mustered the support of the largest party, Nepali Congress, CPN-Unified Socialist, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and some independent lawmakers.