Dramatic turn in Nepal: Oli returns to power as Prachanda’s government falls

In a significant development in Nepal’s political scene, KP Sharma Oli is poised to return as Prime Minister after his predecessor, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, failed to secure a majority in a crucial trust vote. This event marks another turn in the ongoing political instability that has characterized the nation recently. The President of Nepal, Ramchandra Paudel, has called upon members of the House of Representatives capable of garnering support from two or more parties to form the next government.

Prachanda Loses Parliamentary Confidence Amidst Political Unrest

The current crisis unfolded when Prachanda, also the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-MC), could not win the trust vote in Parliament, held on July 12. This was his fifth attempt to secure confidence, with the previous ones also marred by political strife. He managed to gather only 63 votes in his favor out of the necessary 138 in the 275-member House of Representatives, with a substantial 194 lawmakers voting against him.

Nepal faces another political shift as KP Sharma Oli is set to become Prime Minister again after Prachanda fails to secure a parliamentary majority.

Coalition Dynamics and Future Government Formation

Despite receiving backing from several smaller parties such as the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, and Nagarik Unmukti Party, Prachanda’s support proved insufficient. In contrast, Oli presented his claim for leadership with the support of only his party, the CPN-UML, and the Nepali Congress (NC), the largest party in the House. This alignment came about under a deal struck on July 1 between Sher Bahadur Deuba, head of the Congress, and Oli, which included a rotational government leadership plan to continue until the next general elections in 2027.

Historical Context and Implications for Nepal

The political dynamics in Nepal have been notably volatile, with Dahal previously securing a historic vote of confidence with 99 percent support, the highest since the establishment of democracy in Nepal. However, his alliances have been fluid, evidenced by his decision to leave the CPN-UML-led government in March 2023, subsequently securing a majority with the help of the Nepali Congress.

The ongoing shifts indicate a challenging period ahead for Nepal as it seeks political stability amidst frequent changes in governance. The agreement between Oli and the Nepali Congress to share power until the upcoming elections suggests an attempt to bring some steadiness to the country’s political landscape.