Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Loses Confidence Vote: What’s Next?

Nepal's Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, failed to secure a parliamentary vote of confidence on Friday, ending his 20-month tenure. Dahal's largest ally, the UML party, withdrew support, prompting the vote. He garnered 63 votes in favor but needed 138 to maintain power, with 194 voting against.

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a parliamentary vote of confidence on Friday, concluding a tumultuous 20-month tenure marked by survival through four trust votes. The outcome clears the path for a new coalition government.

Dahal faced the vote after his largest ally, the Communist Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) party, retracted its support last week. He needed at least 138 votes to retain his position in the 275-member house but only secured 63, while 194 lawmakers voted against him and one abstained.

"The confidence vote sought by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been rejected," announced Parliament Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire after the vote count.