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At a time when serious discussions are going on about a new power sharing, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden held a meeting on Tuesday. During the meeting held at the residence of Oli in Balkot, the duo discussed a new power sharing, future strategy and contemporary political issues among others. The UML and RPP had forged electoral alliances in some places. Both Oli and Lingden were unanimously elected as the Parliamentary Party leader of their respective parties on Tuesday itself. The UML intensified meetings with senior leaders of various political parties after President Bidya Devi Bhandari called upon the political parties to form a new government by December 25. Earlier on Tuesday morning, UML Vice-Chairman and former speaker Subash Chandra Nembang formally proposed CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to become the prime minister. A few days ago, the Maoist Center itself had formally proposed UML for the power sharing. Dahal, who had moved forward with a strategy to rout Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, had sent General Secretary Dev Gurung to Balkot making him his messenger. On the occasion, Gurung had sought Oli’s opinion on power sharing. Saying that the left alliance is essential to form a stable government in the country, Gurung had formally proposed for power sharing. With the response of the same proposal, Nembang had reached Khumaltar with the proposal of the prime minister. During the meeting, Nembang also put forth two conditions. The UML will take the post of president and not incorporate Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) in the alliance. Nembang had also said that the UML will be flexible in sharing other posts also if the Maoist Center accepts the two conditions, a Khumaltar source said. “We are ready to accept you as the prime minister. You become the prime minister, we are ready to take the post of president,” a source said, quoting the dialogue of two leaders. “Other posts will be shared in consensus. Let’s take politics ahead through a new course to take the country towards the path of stability.” Deuba and Dahal have been staking claims for the post of prime minister in the ruling alliance. No party in the 275-member House of Representatives has 138 seats required to form the government. The Nepali Congress has emerged as the single largest party in the November 20 elections with 89 seats. The UML secured 78 seats. The CPN (Maoist Center) garnered 32 seats, Rastriya Swatantra Party 20, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 14, Janata Samajbadi Party 12, CPN (Unified Socialist) 10, Janamat Party 6, Democratic Socialist Party 4, Nagarik Unmukti Party 3, and Rastriya Janamorcha and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party won one seat each. Independent candidates got five seats.  

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa has announced that he would not join the government. Thapa said that he would not join the government and would take an initiative to form the government under the leadership of the Nepali Congress. He said so after the results of the Parliamentary Party leader election were made public on Wednesday. “Other friends will join the government if it is formed under the leadership of Nepali Congress. There is a need for transformation and generational transfer of power in the party,” he said. He was of the opinion that he will make preparations to become the Parliamentary Party leader in the coming days. “I am not disappointed with this result. Instead I will work hard. The time will come when the friends will feel it,” leader Thapa said. He faced a defeat at the hands of party President Sher Bahadur Deuba in the Parliamentary Party leader. Deuba secured 64 votes while Thapa garnered 25 votes.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has been elected as the party’s Parliamentary Party leader. He defeated his rival candidate General Secretary Gagan Thapa by a margin of 39 votes in the election that took place at the Parliamentary Party Office in Singha Durbar on Wednesday morning. Out of a total 89 votes, Deuba secured 64 votes while Thapa got 25 votes. Senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel had thrown his weight behind Deuba in the election while Thapa was backed by Pradeep Poudel and General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma. Deuba’s political journey Born in 1946 in a socially and economically backward far-western region, Deuba began his political career as a student leader.  He became the chairman of the party’s far-western students’ committee from 1965 to 1968.  In 1994, he was elected as PP leader for the first time, which paved the way for him to become prime minister. Deuba went on to cement his position in the party, and in the 10th general convention of the NC held in 2001, he contested for party presidency. In 2002, he broke away from the party due to the differences with the then party president, Girija Prasad Koirala. In the process, around 40 percent of leaders and cadres joined the Deuba-led Nepali Congress (Democratic). The incident showed Deuba’s influence in the party. Deuba returned to NC in 2006, taking 40 percent share in all party organizations. His ambition to become the party president materialized in 2016. After Deuba failed to garner 51 percent votes to win the presidency outright in the 13th general convention, a second round of vote was conducted. And this time, he received 58 percent of the vote with the support of the Krishna Prasad Sitaula faction. Deuba’s marriage with Arzoo Rana also helped him strengthen his position in national politics as well as in the party. It was Arzoo who helped Deuba connect with the monarchy. In the late 1990s, when the monarchy had a powerful influence in politics, Deuba became prime minister for two terms in 2004-2005, and 2001-2002.

US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter’s official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday. During the meeting, the duo discussed contemporary political issues, Parliamentary Party election and possible power sharing among other issues. The United States, India and China have been expressing concern over the possible power sharing in Nepal. The ambassadors of those countries are closely monitoring the latest political situation of Nepal.