KATHMANDU, July 12: Hours after the apex court issued mandamus in the name of the Office of the President to appoint him as new prime minister, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has expedited consultation with the alliance partners to form a new government.
During a meeting held in the capital on Monday afternoon, senior leaders of NC, CPN (Maoist Center), Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), and Madhav Nepal-led faction of the UML. Senior UML leader Nepal is accompanied by Raghuji Pant in the meeting.
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Sources said the meeting is focused on discussing their future course of action including the formation of a new cabinet. Sources said the meeting is also focused on picking new ministers as Deuba will take the oath of office and secrecy as the new prime minister of the country on Tuesday.
Although the apex court’s order has paved the way for Deuba to become a new prime minister, for now, Deuba will have to secure majority votes in the parliament to survive as the prime minister for the remaining term of parliament.
Earlier today, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said his focus now will be to make the Deuba-led government a success. Given the numerical strength of the opposition parties, Deuba will have to secure votes from a section of UML lawmakers to secure requisite majority seats in parliament.
But since the two factions in the UML have already reached a 10-point agreement to bury their hatchet, whether Deuba will be able to secure majority votes in parliament is still uncertain. Deuba will have to secure the vote of confidence in parliament within a month after his appointment as the new prime minister.