The Political Parties in Nepal Failed to Select a Consensus Candidate for the Post of Prime Minister

In Nepal, the political parties have failed to meet the deadline for selecting a consensus candidate for the post of the Prime Minister. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has sent a letter to Parliament under Article 38(2) of the interim constitution to begin the process for forming a majority government. Following the resignation of Prime Minister JhalaNath Khanal on 14th August 2011, the President had directed the political parties to form a national consensus government within four days. 

While the main political parties had emphasized the importance having a consensus government they failed to come to an agreement on who should lead the next government. The CPN_UML and smaller parties have repeated the stand of the nepali congress that it was difficult to accept the leadership of the maoist while they still have to give up arms and weapons. Nepal will have to wait for some time before the next government is formed.
Nepal's major political parties staked competing claims on the prime minister's post plunging the Himalayan nation back into the years-long political squabbles that have left it without a constitution or stable government.

The country's latest Prime Minister, Jhalnath Khanal, resigned on 14 August 2011 after failing to make progress toward adopting a constitution during his six months in office. It took 17 votes in parliament over seven months to get him elected in February 2011.


None of the parties have a parliamentary majority, making it necessary for any new prime minister to form a coalition government. The lawmakers have twice extended the deadline for writing the new constitution and face a third deadline at the end of the month, which they  are expected to miss. Khanal, who was chosen to help break the deadlock, faced demands that he step down from the opposition Nepali Congress party, which accused him of failing to live up to his promises to move forward the peace process in Nepal. The opposition had blocked parliament since late last month demanding Khanal's resignation.

Khanal also faced turmoil from within his own party and the main coalition partner — the Maoists — since the day he took office. They were not satisfied with the distribution of ministerial portfolios. Though Maoist guerrillas gave up their armed revolt in 2006 to join mainstream politics, thousands of former fighters still live in camps and their future is yet undecided. Khanal had promised he would resolve the issue but failed to do.