Nepal's Parliament voted and failed to elect a Prime Minister for the ninth time on Thursday. The sole contender, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel, got 105 votes — far less than the simple majority required in the house of 601. Of the 168 members present in the House, 61 MPs, primarily of Madhesi parties, remained neutral. The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) abstained. Maoist chairman Prachanda had withdrawn from the contest last Sunday.
The Maoists and the UML have been asking the Speaker to terminate the electoral process. The Speaker has said this would require the consent of the Nepali Congress. The Nepali Congress in turn has made the withdrawal of its candidacy contingent on a “package deal” which would include firm Maoist commitments on the peace process, and a broad understanding on constitutional issues.
Another round of vote has been scheduled for October 6.
