Nepal’s political landscape has taken another dramatic turn as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ lost a crucial vote of confidence in parliament on Friday. The trust vote, which Prachanda needed to remain in power, saw him garnering only 63 votes in favor against 163 votes against. This defeat was triggered by the withdrawal of support from his coalition partner, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) led by KP Sharma Oli. Oli, in a strategic move, struck a deal with opposition parties to undermine Prachanda’s government.
The political turmoil in Nepal has been a recurring theme since the country transitioned to democracy in 2008. This instability is evident in the fact that no government or prime minister has successfully completed a full term in office. Prachanda, who assumed the premiership in December 2022, has now faced his fifth floor test within a year and a half. This instability stems from shifting alliances and political maneuvering, exemplified by Prachanda’s own trajectory. After contesting the parliamentary elections with the Nepali Congress (NC) led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, he surprised everyone by switching sides and forming a government with CPN-UML.
Following this loss, Prachanda is expected to submit his resignation to President Ramchandra Paudel. With the support of the Nepali Congress and other opposition parties, KP Sharma Oli is poised to form the next government. The recent political upheaval highlights the fragility of Nepal’s political system, leaving the country grappling with uncertainties as it navigates through this period of instability.
