KATHMANDU, Feb 8: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will step down in the next few days paving the way for the formation of new government, a cabinet minister said.

Addressing an interaction in the capital on Thursday, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Yagya Bahadur Thapa told reporters that the process to form new government might begin on February 19, the day the prime minister plans to step down.
 
He also claimed that the left alliance would form the new government with UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli as prime minister. 

"Oli ji will be the new prime minister. I would like to congratulate him in advance," Thapa said. 
  Minister Thapa's remarks, the latest in a series of similar remarks from leaders of the ruling alliance, raised hopes that the country would get new government before the third week of February. Earlier this week, Nepali Congress spokesman Bishwa Prakash Sharma had also said that Prime Minister Deuba would step down on February 19, which happens to be Democracy Day.
  
Prime Minister Deuba had been drawing criticism from the left alliance and a section of voters who accuse him of clinging to power despite facing stinging defeats in the parliamentary and provincial elections held two months ago. The left has also taken strong exception to a lot of decisions taken by the current government with 'far-reaching consequences'.

In a different context, Minister Thapa also said that the incumbent government would appoint three representatives for the national assembly. The 59-seat national assembly will include 56 representatives elected through direct election and three nominated by the president on the recommendation of the government. 

 
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