KATHMANDU, JANUARY 10

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today got the support of overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives when he sought the vote of confidence. Out of 271 lawmakers present in the Lower House of the Parliament, 268 voted in his favour, including those of the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Unified Socialist).

Only two lawmakers - Prem Suwal of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Chitra Bahadur KC of the Rastriya Janamorcha - voted against Dahal.

Senior-most member Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana, who chaired the House meeting, did not take part in the voting process as per the HoR regulations, according to Assistant Spokesperson for the Parliament Secretariat Dasharath Dhamala.

Three lawmakers Ambika Basnet, Kishor Singh Rathaur, and Manorama Sherchan, who represent the NC, were absent. Another NC lawmaker, Tek Bahadur Gurung, who represents Manang constituency, remains suspended.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba said his party was voting in favour of Dahal with the hope that he would protect the constitution and work in the interests of the people and the country.

Responding to lawmakers' remarks, Dahal said the incredible support pledged by the parties, including the NC was something to be proud of, but he also felt the burden of delivering as per the expectation of those parties.

Earlier, Dahal had sought the vote of confidence saying that he would work in the spirit of collaboration with all the political forces to bring the economy back on track, deliver services to the people, spur economic growth, and lift five million people living below the poverty line out of abject poverty. He said he would need support of all political forces to raise Rs 60 billion rupees to meet development expenditure.

The PM said he would endevour to achieve double digit economic growth within the next five years. He said he would make conductive environment to attract of FDI and stop depletion of foreign currency reserves.

He said he would make efforts to release from prison Resham Chaudhary and others who were unjustly jailed or indicted during the Madhes movement. Suitable reparation will be provided to conflict victims and the remaining work of the peace process will be concluded soon, he added.

Representatives of all parties and independent MPs spoke before the floor test.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.