According to sources at Sheetal Niwas, President Ramchandra Paudel will appoint CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli as the new Prime Minister on Sunday. Oli is scheduled to be sworn in on the evening of the same day.
On Friday night, Oli visited Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office, with Nepali Congress Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba and submitted his claim to form a new government. Oli’s claim is supported by 165 MPs, including 88 from the Nepali Congress and 77 from the UML.
This development follows Prime Minister and CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s automatic removal from office after failing to secure a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. In response, President Paudel called for the formation of a new government by Sunday evening, as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution.
After an agreement was reached between the Nepali Congress and UML on July 1, 2024, Prachanda attempted to gain a vote of confidence according to Article 100, Clause-2 of the Constitution. However, in the 18 months since becoming Prime Minister, Prachanda failed to secure a majority in Parliament during his fifth attempt at a vote of confidence, leading to his departure.
Preparations Underway
CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula stated that most ministers would be sworn in on the same day as the Prime Minister. The plan is to expand the cabinet in two phases as much as possible.
UML Vice-President Bishnu Poudel and Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Akhtar are likely to take the oath for the finance portfolio. “On the same day as the Prime Minister takes oath, many other ministers will also take oath. We have planned to expand the Council of Ministers in only two stages as much as possible,” said Bartaula.
He added that internal preparations for the Council of Ministers’ expansion have been made after extensive discussions. However, some matters still need to be discussed as other parties must be included.
