Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, is set to seek a vote of confidence in Nepal’s lower House of Representatives today, marking his fourth such attempt since assuming office 18 months ago.
This move comes after the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal withdrew its support from his coalition government.
Coalition Dynamics and Support
Despite the withdrawal of support by the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Dahal appears to have secured a comfortable majority in the 275-member parliament.
He has the backing of several key parties: the CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist) with 77 lawmakers, the Maoist Center with 32, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) with 21, the CPN-Unified Socialist with 10, the Janata Samajbadi Party with seven, and the Nagarik Unmukti Party with four.
Additionally, three independent lawmakers are supporting him, giving Dahal a total of 154 supporters, well above the required 138 votes needed for a majority.
The Federal Parliament Secretariat has included the vote of confidence motion in its schedule for today. However, the opposition Nepali Congress is expected to disrupt the session, demanding the formation of a parliamentary investigation committee to probe allegations of fraud involving Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.
Allegations Against Home Minister Lamichhane
Accusations have surfaced against Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, implicating him in a fraudulent cooperative scheme that allegedly duped millions of rupees from the public.
The opposition has been calling for a thorough investigation into these allegations. Lamichhane, while denying any wrongdoing, has faced accusations of misusing his authority to influence the investigation, including the transfer of police personnel involved in the case.
Pokhara Metropolis completed an investigative report over the alleged fraud this week and submitted it to the police. The report includes numerous applications naming Lamichhane as a key figure in the fraud.
Furthermore, there are accusations that Lamichhane pressured the Office of the Attorney General to clear him of any charges.
The opposition has been obstructing the budget session of the parliament since May 10, though they allowed the president to table the government’s policies and programs.
Dahal’s decision to seek a vote of confidence again follows the constitutional requirement under Article 100 Sub-section (2) of the Constitution of Nepal 2072. This mandates a prime minister to prove a majority if coalition parties withdraw their support.
Dahal’s current attempt to secure a vote of confidence follows a series of political maneuvers and shifting alliances. He first came to power in December 2022 by forming an alliance with the CPN-UML, surprising the Nepali Congress (NC), with whom he had forged an election alliance in November 2022.
This led to a successful vote of confidence on January 10, 2023, where Dahal received overwhelming support with 268 out of 270 parliamentarians voting in his favor.
However, Dahal soon switched alliances again. In March 2023, he left the CPN-UML to rejoin forces with the Nepali Congress, leading to another successful vote of confidence on March 20, 2023. Here, he secured 172 votes out of the 262 lawmakers present.
The Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal’s recent decision to leave the coalition has once again prompted Dahal to seek a vote of confidence. The outcome of today’s vote will determine whether Dahal can maintain his position as Prime Minister amid the ongoing political turbulence and allegations against a key member of his cabinet.
As Dahal prepares to seek the vote of confidence today, the political landscape in Nepal remains tense. The outcome will not only affect the stability of Dahal’s government but also influence the ongoing investigations and political alliances in the country.
The opposition’s actions and the support of Dahal’s coalition partners will be critical in determining the future of Nepal’s political leadership.
