PM Dahal, UML Chair Oli hold meeting

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman held a meeting on Wednesday. Oli had reached Khumaltar to meet Dahal this afternoon. Dahal became the prime minister for the third time with the support of UML Chairman Oli. Though Dahal became the prime minister, they are yet to make a decision on the distribution of many important posts. The UML will get the post of President and Speaker. The Maoist Center, who got the post of prime minister, will get the post of Vice-President and Rastriya Swatantra Party will get Deputy Speaker. This is the first time that Oli reached Khumaltar today after the alliance of UML-Maoist Center. Preparations are also underway to rope in Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) in the ruling coalition.

NC calls CWC meeting for January 6

The Nepali Congress called its Central Working Committee meeting for January 6. NC Party Office Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel said that the meeting will take place at the party's central office in Sanepa at 1 pm. It has been learnt that the meeting will review the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly and discuss the contemporary political issues. NC central working committee office bearers and members have been urged to attend the meeting. The Nepali Congress is the largest party in the House of Representatives with 89 seats.

President Bhandari summons House meeting for 1 pm on Jan 9

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has called the Parliament meeting for 1 pm on January 9. The President called the meeting as per the recommendation of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had told President Bhandari to convene the Parliament meeting at the earliest. Senior member of the Parliament Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana had administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected lawmakers on December 22.  

Seven-party alliance likely to sweep provinces too

With the formation of the UML-Maoist alliance, the NC is also likely to lose its strength in all seven provinces as well. The alliance has the required majority to form governments in all provinces.  The UML is the largest party in Province 1 and Madhes, while the NC maintains the lead in the remaining five provinces.

In order to form a government in the 93-member Province 1 assembly, parties need the support of 47 members. The UML-led alliance currently has the support of 60 lawmakers, including 40 from UML, 13 from the Maoists, six from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and one from the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP). 

The seven-party alliance is also in a comfortable position in the 53-member assembly of Sudurpaschim assembly. The alliance has the support of 29 members: 11 from Maoists, 10 from UML, seven from Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), and one from RPP. In Bagmati province, a new government can be formed without the NC’s support.

In the 110-member assembly, the ruling alliance commands support of 61 members: 27 from UML, 21 from Maoists, and 13 from RPP.  The coalition is also in a strong position in the 60-member assembly of Gandaki province, where UML, Maoists, and RPP have a total 32 seats.

The Madhes province assembly has 107 members. So, parties will need the support of 54 members to form a government. The alliance of seven parties currently holds 62 seats in the assembly: 23 from UML, eight from Maoists, 16 from Janata Samajbadi Party, 13 from the Janamat Party, one from the RPP, and one from NUP. Additionally, an independent group of lawmakers led by Prabhu Sah has also joined the alliance.

In the 87-member Lumbini province assembly, the seven-party alliance has 52 members, which is sufficient to form a government. UML and the Maoist Center have 29 and nine members, respectively, while the RRP and NUP have four members each and Janamat has three. 

Similarly, the alliance also has a majority in the 40-member Karnali province assembly, with 24 members: 13 from Maoists, 10 from UML, and one from the RPP. This meets the requirement of 21 members to form a new government.