Nepal political crisis deepens as PM Oli loses vote of confidence

Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli lost a trust vote in the House of Representatives on Monday, in a fresh setback to the embattled premier seeking to tighten his grip on power after the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) led by Pushpakamal Dahal “Prachanda” withdrew support to his government.

PM Oli secured 93 votes in the lower house of parliament during a special session convened on the directives of the country’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Oli, 69, required at least 136 votes in the 275-member House of Representatives to win the confidence motion as four members are currently under suspension.

A total of 124 members went on to vote against the prime minister.

After its key ally CPN-MC led by Prachanda withdrew its support to the government, Oli’s dispensation was reduced to a minority government, looking down the wrong end of the barrel as the PM headed into the vote of confidence on Monday.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Oli amid a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

On Monday, before the voting process began in the lower house, Oli presented a list of achievements before the lawmakers, The Himalayan Times reported.

“This government has achieved so much, and has never-before-seen accomplishments. There is no need to mistrust the government and vote against it,” Oli said while he listed his administration’s feats under his leadership.