KATHMANDU, May 24 - The Parliament has elected se-nior CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal the prime minister, ending weeks of political turmoil after Pushpa Kamal Dahal stepped down on May 4 following a dispute with the President. He will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Tuesday.
Nepal, 56, has been elected unopposed, Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang told the 601-member House on Saturday evening. He enjoys the backing of 358 members from 22 of the 25 political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly. The Unified CPN (Maoist) and Nepali Janata Dal boycotted the election while CPN (Unified) walked out the parliamentary proceedings protesting the President's move asking Chief of the Army Staff to continue in office over-ruling the government decision to sack him on May 3. They said that such a practice would not pave the way for the resolution of the lingering political crisis.
“I shall focus my efforts on the key responsibilities that I now shoulder -- making the peace process and constitution drafting process a success through the politics of consensus and collaboration,” Nepal told journalists just as he was named the prime minister.
Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala proposed Nepal as prime minister, whereas UML Chairman and Parliamentary Party leader Jhala Nath Kanal; Madhesi Janadhikar Forum's Parliamentary Party leader Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar; Chairman of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahanta Thakur; Chairman of Sadbhavana Party Rajendra Mahato; and General Secretary of CPN-ML Chandra Prakash Mainali were among the top guns and other 15 political parties seconding the motion.
Presenting the proposal in the Parliament, NC President Koirala said the politics of consensus, collaboration and unity initiated in 2005 among all parties has been disrupted after arriving at the present stage.
Koirala said, “Nobody will be a loser in the politics of consensus, collaboration and unity. Instead, everyone will be the winner.”
Pointing at the outgoing prime minister and Maoist Chairman Dahal, Koirala said, “I don't understand why Prachanda deviated from the politics of consensus and historic opportunity to make the peace process a success.” He called on the Maoists to join the new government.
UML Chairman Khanal hoped the Maoists would review weaknesses and come forward to make the peace process and constitution drafting process a success. He claimed that the new coalition would lead the transition period successfully on the basis of common minimum programme and code of conduct.
MJF PP leader Gachhadar, TMLP Chairman Thakur and SP Chairman Mahato said the new government would implement the eight-point understanding reached between the then government and Madhes-based parties.
However, CPN-ML leader Mainali and Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha said nobody should extend his or her support with precondition for the sake of petty interest.
Nepal, 56, has been elected unopposed, Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang told the 601-member House on Saturday evening. He enjoys the backing of 358 members from 22 of the 25 political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly. The Unified CPN (Maoist) and Nepali Janata Dal boycotted the election while CPN (Unified) walked out the parliamentary proceedings protesting the President's move asking Chief of the Army Staff to continue in office over-ruling the government decision to sack him on May 3. They said that such a practice would not pave the way for the resolution of the lingering political crisis.
“I shall focus my efforts on the key responsibilities that I now shoulder -- making the peace process and constitution drafting process a success through the politics of consensus and collaboration,” Nepal told journalists just as he was named the prime minister.
Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala proposed Nepal as prime minister, whereas UML Chairman and Parliamentary Party leader Jhala Nath Kanal; Madhesi Janadhikar Forum's Parliamentary Party leader Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar; Chairman of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahanta Thakur; Chairman of Sadbhavana Party Rajendra Mahato; and General Secretary of CPN-ML Chandra Prakash Mainali were among the top guns and other 15 political parties seconding the motion.
Presenting the proposal in the Parliament, NC President Koirala said the politics of consensus, collaboration and unity initiated in 2005 among all parties has been disrupted after arriving at the present stage.
Koirala said, “Nobody will be a loser in the politics of consensus, collaboration and unity. Instead, everyone will be the winner.”
Pointing at the outgoing prime minister and Maoist Chairman Dahal, Koirala said, “I don't understand why Prachanda deviated from the politics of consensus and historic opportunity to make the peace process a success.” He called on the Maoists to join the new government.
UML Chairman Khanal hoped the Maoists would review weaknesses and come forward to make the peace process and constitution drafting process a success. He claimed that the new coalition would lead the transition period successfully on the basis of common minimum programme and code of conduct.
MJF PP leader Gachhadar, TMLP Chairman Thakur and SP Chairman Mahato said the new government would implement the eight-point understanding reached between the then government and Madhes-based parties.
However, CPN-ML leader Mainali and Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha said nobody should extend his or her support with precondition for the sake of petty interest.
