PM Prachanda fails to win vote of confidence

 By Arpana Adhikari,Kathmandu, July 13: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ failed to garner a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Friday.

Despite successfully surviving four consecutive floor tests since assuming the high office on December 25, 2022, Prime Minister Prachanda lost the trust vote on his fifth attempt and his tenure ended in 18 months. 

During a special session of the Parliament on Friday, Prime Minister Prachanda tabled a confidence motion. 

Announcing the results of the voice vote on the proposal, Speaker Devraj Ghimire said that 63 votes went in favour of the proposal. 

He declared that the Prime Minister’s proposal for a vote of confidence in the HoR was unsuccessful, as he failed to secure 138 votes required to pass the trust motion. 

A total of 258 lawmakers were present in the special session of the 275-member Lower House during the voting. 

Out of 258 lawmakers presented, 194 lawmakers voted against him while one member remained neutral thereby leading to Prime Minister Prachanda’s loss to the trust vote, the Speaker announced. 

The Prime Minister received 32 votes from the CPN (Maoist Centre), 21 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and 10 votes from the CPN (Unified Socialist) while other parties voted against him. 

Nepali Congress has 88 members while the CPN UML has 79 members, and both parties voted against him. 

Prime Minister Prachanda opted for a floor test for the fifth time after the CPN-UML, the largest coalition partner, withdrew its support from the government on July 3. 

On July 1, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML agreed to form a new government under CPN-UML’s chairman KP Sharma Oli. 

Following the UML’s withdrawal, the Janata Samajwadi Party, led by Ashok Rai, also withdrew its support from the government. 

Earlier, tabling the confidence motion, Prime Minister Prachanda presented a list of achievements before the House ahead of the voting process began. 

He also mentioned how, why and where the two big parties inked the agreement. He also expressed concerns about potential regression and autocracy when the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML) joined hands. 

He blamed the two big parties forged the alliance fearing good governance being maintained by his government. 

Asking the Nepali Congress to safeguard the Parliament, Prime Minister Prachanda warned, “Those who believe that they will not be brave until the constitution is crushed will try to swallow the parliament itself.”

He urged the NC and UML to form a new government while adhering strictly to the constitution.

He also took the opportunity to criticise UML chairman KP Sharma Oli, reminding him of UML’s demand for resignation on moral grounds after losing majority and recalling Oli’s decision to dissolve the parliament in 2020 and 2021. 

Prime Minister Prachanda also expressed suspicion about the constitution amendment, which the CPN-UML and the NC said was one of the objectives of their alliance.   He suggested that there could be a conspiracy to undermine inclusive representation under the pretext of achieving stability. 

He questioned whether these efforts aimed to diminish the influence of inclusive and proportional representation, including that of smaller parties, by using instability as justification.

Prime Minister Prachanda also expressed suspicion about constitutional amendments. He suggested that there could be a conspiracy to undermine inclusive representation under the pretext of achieving stability. 

He questioned whether efforts were being made to diminish the presence of inclusive and proportional representation, as well as smaller parties, under the guise of addressing instability.

He urged NC and UML not to take the nation towards unnecessary conflict in the name of amending the constitution.

“If we are to amend the constitution, let us convene openly, discuss thoroughly, and move towards a directly elected executive. We must enhance the representation of Dalits and women. Let us continue to protect and strengthen the rights of marginalised castes, classes and communities,” he said.

Counting his achievements, he said the country’s economic situation has been improving in recent times. The government has fulfilled all responsibilities, including establishing a citizen-friendly governance system, combating corruption, and safeguarding national interests, achieving high marks visible and understandable to the general public.

He asserted that the current political situation has emerged because the government remained committed and determined not to compromise on good governance. Meanwhile, leaders of the main opposition, Ramesh Lekhak, chief 

whip the Nepali Congress and Yogesh Bhattarai, secretary of the CPN-UML spoke against the favour of vote of confidence motion. 

Taking part in the discussion on the confidence motion, Lekhak clarified that an agreement was inked between the UML and NC to uphold political stability in the country.

“The two parties have agreed to promote good governance in the country. The new alliance aims to achieve developmental goals, make the country more dynamic, and accelerate the pace of development,” he added. 

Claiming that seeking a vote of confidence for the fifth time in 18 months indicated instability, he said, “Raising, discussing, and reviewing the issue of constitutional amendment are not regressive. This is progress. The constitution needs constant review to make it work.”

Likewise, Bhattarai warned Prime Minister Prachanda not to provoke division under the guise of caste, language, religion and culture. 

He clarified that the new power equation was formed with priorities such as securing the future of youth by enhancing Nepal’s international reputation and economy, alongside implementing the constitution and strengthening democracy. Bhattarai mentioned that the UML and NC are considering collaborating with the CPN (Maoist Centre) for a constitutional amendment.

Likewise, Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of Rastriya Swatantra Party Rabi Lamichhane and Metmani Chaudhary of CPN(Unified Socialist) a ruling coalition partner, spoke in favour of the vote of confidence motion. 

DPM Lamichhan questioned the significance and necessity of the recently established alliance between the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML).

He asserted that the agreement reached between the two major parties in parliament did not constitute a national consensus. 

Past vote of confidence 

Prime Minister Prachanda tabled the first confidence motion on January 10, 2023, after he was appointed the Prime Minister, in which he secured 268 votes. 

The number of votes he secured in his first-floor test was historic in the sense that no other Prime Minister in Nepal has garnered such a large majority. 

Similarly, he sought a vote of confidence on March 10, 2023, for the second time and secured 172 votes. 

Likewise, he received 157 votes in each of the third and fourth confidence motions tabled on March 13, 2024, and May 20, 2024, respectively. 

After failing to show his majority in the House, PM Prachanda left his official residence in Baluwatar on Friday itself and shifted to his private residence in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, where he was welcomed by his neighbours.