Kathmandu, July 12 (UNI) Embattled Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ faces a vote of confidence in parliament today, and he is almost sure to fail as he commands less than half of the votes required to secure a majority to lead the government.

After the former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s party, CPN-UML, the largest coalition partner, withdrew support to the government on July 3, Prime Minister Dahal has been leading a minority government.

As of now, he commands only 63 votes, far below the required 138 for a majority in the 275-member parliament, reports MyRepublica.

The political landscape in Nepal shifted dramatically after the two largest parties — Nepali Congress (NC) and the UML– forged an alliance to form a new government. This agreement was reached at midnight on July 1, leading to the UML withdrawing its support to Dahal's government on July 3.

After the UML withdrew support, the Janata Samajbadi Party, led by Ashok Rai, also pulled the plug on the government. The CPN-UML has 77 seats and the newly formed Rai-led party has seven seats in the House of Representatives.

Dahal on July 5 decided to go for the floor test after the UML’s withdrawal of support.

Dahal opted for the floor test in accordance with Article 100(2) of the constitution which says, “If the political party which the prime minister represents is divided or a political party in coalition government withdraws its support, the prime minister shall table a motion in the House of

Representatives for a vote of confidence within thirty days.”

Dahal is most likely to get 32 votes from his CPN (Maoist Centre), 21 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and 10 from the CPN (Unified Socialist).

The parliamentary party meeting of Unified Socialist on Thursday decided to give Prime Minister Dahal the trust vote.

On July 4, RSP leaders had announced they’d quit the government but ministers from the party after meeting PM Dahal later that day decided not to resign immediately. They said they backtracked on their plan after the prime minister sought their support until the floor test.

To secure a majority in the 275-strong House, the PM needs 138 votes.

The Nepali Congress, with 88 seats, and the UML with 77 seats in the House of Representatives, have already decided to vote against Prime Minister Dahal. The Rastriya Prajantra Party, which has 14 seats, has also decided to vote against Dahal.

On Thursday, NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak issued a whip to its MPs to vote against Dahal. Similarly, UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula also issued instructions to vote against Dahal during the trust vote.

Additionally, several fringe parties including Janamat Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP), Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) have decided to withhold their support, aligning with the NC-UML alliance both at the center and in the provincial governments. The breakaway faction of the Janata Samajwadi Party, led by Upendra Yadav, has joined the opposition, along with the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP).

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), too, has decided against giving a vote of confidence to Dahal's government.

UNI RN