Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda (meaning fierce) becomes Nepal’s Prime Minister for the third time. He has served as the Prime Minister of Nepal earlier twice in 2006 and 20016. He will be sworn in this afternoon by the president.
Indian Prime Minister has congratulated him.
In the parliamentary general election held last month on 20 November 2022 to elect the 275 members of the House of Representatives, no political party got a clear majority.
Nepali Congress (a centre to centre-left party) led by the incumbent Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba emerged as the single largest party winning 89 seats out of 275.
The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) has three main factions. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) CPN-UML, led by KP Sharma Oli won78 seats while Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) CPN-MC, a party with Far-left position, led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal stood third winning 30 seats. Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) CPN-US led by Madhav Kumar Nepal won 10 seats.
With no party winning a clear majority of 138, it was left on political manoeuvring between Nepali Congress and main factions of Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) to muster required numbers and forge alliances, the standard format of coalition politics worldwide.
Apparently, the Pushpa Kumar Dahal’s power-sharing discussion with Sher Bahadur Deuba of Nepali Congress broke down due to Dahal’s insistence to become the Prime Minister first. He has now managed to receive support of CPN-UML led by KP Sharma Oli who has 78 seats. With help of KP Sharma Oli and other alliance partner, Pushpa Kumar Dahal is likely to successfully prove his majority on the floor of the House. This, brings two main Nepali Communist leaders together.
Both Pushpa Kamal Dahal and KP Sharma Oli are perceived as ‘pro-China’ due to their strong ‘left’ political ideology, both have been known advocates of ‘re- visiting’ traditional relationship of Nepal with India.
Dahal is a former Maoist guerrilla fighter who gave up arms to give peace a chance. He played a key role in abolition of monarchy and transforming Nepal to a democratic republic.
***
***
