• Sher Bahadur Deuba secured 388 votes, eight short of two-third majority

Kathmandu, June 6

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba was elected 40th prime minister of Nepal today. In the prime ministerial election held in the Parliament, Deuba secured 388 votes, eight short of two-third majority in the 593-member Parliament.

The prime ministerial election was held in the second meeting of the Parliament today and only 558 lawmakers took part in the election. NC lawmaker Sujata Koirala, who is out of the country, was among those absent.

Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar, who announced the result of the prime ministerial election in the House, congratulated Deuba on winning the election. Lawmakers cast their votes by signing registers kept on either side of the speaker’s chair, with lawmakers supporting Deuba signing a register kept on the right side of the speaker’s chair.

The speaker counted the votes and announced the result in the House meeting.

Lawmakers from Deuba’s Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Centre, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nepal Democratic Forum, Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal, CPN-United,   Samajbadi Janata Dal  and Akhanda Nepal Party were among those who voted for  Deuba, who was the sole candidate contesting the post.

Lawmakers from the main opposition party CPN-UML, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Rastriya Janamorcha, Madhes Samata Party and Bahujan Shakti Party  were among those who  voted against Deuba.

Nepal Parivar Dal, which has two lawmakers in the Parliament, did not vote for or against Deuba.

The newly-elected PM told mediapersons outside the House that he would strive for Nepal’s economic prosperity and focus on developing infrastructure in the country.

CPN-UML deputy parliamentary party leader Subas Chandra Nembang said his party was not in favour of changing the prime minister between two local polls, but since Dueba had been elected the new PM the UML would like Deuba to fulfil the pledge he made  in the Parliament today.

RJP-N leader Laxman Lal Karna said his party supported Deuba’s prime ministerial bid in the hope that Deuba would ensure passage of the constitution amendment bill, increase the number of local levels in Madhes and grant martyrdom status to those killed during agitation in Madhes.