The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 06, 2025
Today: April 06, 2025

Amid opposition protests, Nepal PM wins parliamentary vote of confidence

FILE PHOTO: Nepal PM seeks confidence vote at the parliament in Kathmandu
June 04, 2024
Gopal Sharma - Reuters

By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's prime minister won a parliamentary vote of confidence on Monday amid protests by the opposition demanding a parliamentary probe into allegations that his home minister illegally took money from several companies before he entered politics.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist rebel chief in the Himalayan nation sandwiched between China and India, formed a coalition cabinet in March with the support of the liberal Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party and several smaller parties.

A fresh vote of confidence became necessary after a junior partner in the coalition withdrew support following differences with the leader.

The main opposition Nepali Congress said Dahal must set up a parliamentary panel to probe allegations that Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the home ministry, Rabi Lamichhane, illegally took large amounts of money from a number of cooperative companies, which are formed and run by small group of people, when he was a television show presenter before joining politics.

Lamichhane has denied the charges.

Parliament Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire said Dahal won 157 votes, exceeding the minimum 138 required, in the 275-member parliament in Mondayโ€™s voting in which the entire opposition - except one member - did not participate.

โ€œAs the number is the majority of all members of parliament, I declare the motion of confidence tabled by the prime minister as passed,โ€ Ghimire told the parliament as the opposition Nepali Congress party protested and shouted slogans.

Dahal, who still goes by his war nom de guerre "Prachanda", which means fierce, led a decade-long insurgency from 1996 which caused 17,000 deaths before he joined mainstream politics under a 2006 peace deal overseen by the United Nations.

He is serving a third time as prime minister, although he did not complete the full five-year term during previous stints.

Nepal has had 13 governments since it abolished its 239-year-old monarchy in 2008 and became a republic.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by YP Rajesh, William Maclean)

Related Articles

Jordan says it supports Syria and rejects foreign meddling Scores killed as Syrian forces seek to crush Alawite insurgency Turkey's Kurds say PKK militants heeding jailed leader's peace call is the right move Congo has asked Chad for military support to help fight rebels, sources say
Share This

Popular

Asia|Political|US|World

Foreign journalists at US-backed media fear being sent to repressive homelands after Trump's cuts

Foreign journalists at US-backed media fear being sent to repressive homelands after Trump's cuts
Asia|Business|Economy|World

Vietnam GDP slowed in first quarter ahead of Trump's tariffs

Vietnam GDP slowed in first quarter ahead of Trump's tariffs
Asia|Sports|Travel|World

North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years

North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years
Asia|Sports|World

Several grass fires wreak havoc at Japanese Grand Prix qualifying as Max Verstappen sets new lap record

Several grass fires wreak havoc at Japanese Grand Prix qualifying as Max Verstappen sets new lap record

World

Americas|Crime|Election|Political|World

Canadian police say arrest made after man barricaded himself inside Parliament's east block

Canadian police say arrest made after man barricaded himself inside Parliament's east block
Asia|Sports|Travel|World

North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years

North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years
Americas|Business|Economy|Environment|World

Petrobras completes animal care center required for offshore license

Petrobras completes animal care center required for offshore license
Africa|Political|US|World

US revokes all South Sudan visas over failure to repatriate citizens

US revokes all South Sudan visas over failure to repatriate citizens