Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, lost a trust vote in parliament after the largest party in his government, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), withdrew its support.
Prachanda, who had been in power for 19 months, failed to secure the necessary majority in the House of Representatives, receiving only 63 votes in favour while 194 members voted against him.
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This defeat means Prachanda is forced to step down. The loss of support from the CPN (UML) led to the formation of a new alliance with the Nepali Congress, which intends to install Khadga Prasad Oli, the leader of the communist party, as the new prime minister of Nepal.
Prachanda had been leading a coalition government since December 2022 after his party finished third in the elections. His tenure as prime minister, his third time in office, was marked by frequent votes of confidence due to internal disagreements within his coalition.
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Prachanda, who led a Maoist insurgency from 1996 to 2006 before joining mainstream politics, previously served as prime minister in 2008 and stepped down after a year due to conflicts with the president.
Who is Pushpa Kamal Dahal a.k.a Prachanda
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, is a prominent Nepalese political figure and former Prime Minister.
Born on December 11, 1954, Prachanda emerged as the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and led a decade-long insurgency from 1996 to 2006 against the Nepalese monarchy and government, aiming to establish a people’s republic. This violent conflict, which resulted in over 17,000 deaths and many disappearances, ended with a peace agreement in 2006, leading the Maoists to join mainstream politics.
Prachanda’s political journey has been marked by significant achievements and challenges. He became Nepal’s Prime Minister for the first time in 2008 after his party secured the most seats in the Constituent Assembly elections. However, his tenure was short-lived due to differences with the president over the dismissal of the army chief. He returned to power again in 2016 and most recently in December 2022, leading a coalition government.
Throughout his political career, Prachanda has been a controversial and influential figure, advocating for radical changes and social justice while navigating the complexities of coalition politics. Despite his efforts to stabilize the government and implement reforms, his leadership has faced significant opposition, culminating in a recent no-confidence vote that led to his resignation in 2024.
