Nepalnews.com, news from Nepal as it happens

Voting for prime minister begins at CA

Voting for prime minister has begun in the Constituent Assembly hall at International Convention Center (ICC) in Baneshwor after various CA members delivered their opinions regarding the elections.

Initially, the CA members are voting on the proposal of NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba as candidate for PM. Following decision on this proposal, they will start voting on the proposal of Prachanda as prime minister.

The election process began one-and-half hour later than earlier schedule, caused by the continued parleys among the three parties – Maoists, CPN (UML) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum – on portfolio sharing in the new cabinet.

The members of the constituent assembly will choose the new prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Maoist-UML-MJF alliance with few smaller parties' backing had fielded Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' as the prime ministerial candidate while Nepali Congress fielded its senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Senior vice president of Nepali Congress tabled his proposal to elect Deuba as prime minister supported by general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi.

Similarly, UML general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal tabled proposal for electing Prachanda as the prime minister with support by MJF chief coordinator Upendra Yadav, Maoist leader Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) leader Sarita Giri and CPN (Unity Center) general secretary Narayan Kaji Shrestha 'Prakash' among eight other parliamentarians.

With majority backing, Prachanda is likely to be elected as the new prime minister of the country. nepalnews.com ia Aug 15 08