Nepal’s first Parliament meeting after the appointment by new Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will begin here on Monday. The session will be focused on the elections for the Speaker (and Deputy Speaker) of the Parliament. House of Representatives. The session will also include Prime Minister Prachanda ‘s confidence vote on January 9. The first session of the new Parliament was called by Nepal President Bidhya Deva Bhandari on January 9, after the country had gone to polls on November 20, After dramatically walking out of the prepoll alliance led Nepali Congress, the leader of CPN-Maoist Centre at the age of 68 and joining hands with K P Sharma Oli (opposition leader), he was sworn in as Prime Minister the third time.
The House of Representatives’ first meeting will be addressed by top leaders of major political parties at the Parliament Building on Monday.
Sources close to the Parliament secretariat claim that it was agreed upon in a meeting of all parties held at Parliament building on Friday.
The oldest HoR Member of Parliament Pashupati Shamsher, JB Rana was the one to call the meeting. He is also leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
During the meeting it was determined that the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives will take place on January 21st, 23 and 24 respectively.
Prachanda, with the support and participation of 169 HoR members, was appointed the prime minister according to Article 76 clause 2, of the Constitution. The Prime Minister appointed by such provision must request a vote in confidence within 30 calendar days of his/her appointment.
Three vice prime ministers were appointed to the new cabinet by Bishnu Pande from Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist(CPN-UML), Narayan Kaji Shrestha of CPN-Maoist Centre, and Rabi Lamichhane of Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Paudel spoke at a Friday press conference and stated that the incumbent government will deliver fast once the vote is taken in confidence and the council meets its completion.
The deputy prime Minister assured that the government would respond in a dynamic fashion to the nation’s national responsibility as well as solve the urgent problems, including the liquidity crunch.
According to a Maoist Centre source, the Prime Minister will expand his cabinet in order to give full form of the government after he wins the confidence vote.
To have a clear majority at the House, Prime Minister Prachanda must receive 138 votes
He is supported seven parties, including Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist(CPN-UML), and the newly-formed Rastriya Swatantra Party [RSP].