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| NC prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Paudel at Constituent Assembly .. |
The Legislature Parliament could not elect a Prime Minister even in the seventh round of voting held in Constituent Assembly (CA) building, Naya Baneshwar, Tuesday. NC prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Paudel at Constituent Assembly ... Although, the Unified CPN (Maoist) had hoped for a breakthrough today with indirect assurance from some Madhes-based leaders the final results did not turn out to be in its favour. CPN (UML) stayed neutral as in the previous elections. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal (MJF-N) breached the alliance with other three Madhes based parties, but did not participate in the voting process. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) lawmakers did not turn up at all for the voting. MJF-N, whose leaders had said earlier they would vote for Maoist candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal, changed their mind at the last moment after they saw their votes alone would not be sufficient for the Maoist candidate to get a majority. Speaking to journalists after the votings MJF-N lawmakers said, we went to the House prepared to vote for the Maoist candidate, but changed our mind when lawmakers of decisive MJF-L did not turn up for voting. Hence, the prime ministerial election on Tuesday also ended in a fiasco. Nepali Congress vice president Ram Chandra Poudel secured 119 votes in his favour while 245 votes were cast against him. Some 151 lawmakers opted for 'no vote' section in the ballot paper. Altogether 515 lawmakers participated during the voting. Likewise, Maoist chairman Dahal also failed to secure majority (301 votes) receiving 240 votes in his favour while 110 votes were cast against him. Some 159 lawmakers opted for 'no vote' section in the ballot paper. Altogether 521 lawmakers participated during the voting. Next election on September 26 As both the prime ministerial candidates failed to get elected by today's election, Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang announced that the next election would take place on September 26 as per the recommendation of the Business Advisory Committee.