Maoist Vice-Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai announced the Maoist decision to withdraw the party chairman from the race.[break]
Though Paudel remains the sole candidate in the field following Dahal´s withdrawal, Paudel must secure majority in parliament to get elected.
Bhattarai urged the NC to clear the field and start the election process afresh. But Paudel rejected any possibility of his withdrawal and vowed to remain in the race until a new prime minister is elected.
Paudel secures 116 votes
In the voting Sunday, Paudel secured 116 votes and only two lawmakers voted against him. Of the 598 active members in the 601-seat parliament, only 189 lawmakers cast their votes.
Lawmakers from the largest Maoist party commanding 237 votes, third largest UML and Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) abstained from the voting. MPRF (Democratic), Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party, Sadbhabana Party, Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (ML), Nepal Family Party and Chure Bhawar, among others, cast their votes in neutral position.
The Maoists and the UML leaders have demanded that the ongoing process be terminated and a new prime minister be elected through a consensus among the major parties.
However, Paudel termed the two parties´ proposal unacceptable. "Consensus can be forged on ending the peace process or for drafting the constitution but it is illogical in the case of forming government," he said.
Maoist and UML leaders have floated the proposal to amend to the parliamentary regulations for terminating the ongoing voting process. As per the existing provision, the voting should be continued until a prime minister is elected.
Related story
'Security lapse in Tinkune is the result of punishing field com...
