Nepali Congress initiates dialogues with other parties in a bid to form govt.

Nepali Congress Party, which is emerging as the largest party in the election, has reached out to other political parties in a bid to form a government under its leadership.

Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday met  Chairman of Janamat Party,  CK Raut, at the PM’s residence, Baluwatar, Thursday evening. They discussed matters relating to forging cooperation in the days ahead, sources close to Deuba. Although Janamat Party has won just one seat under direct election to the HoR, as the party has crossed the threshold of being a national party it will get 1 or two more seats in the Parliament under the proportionate voting method.

Similarly, Nepali Congress Vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka met CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Puspakamal Dahal “Prachanda” at latter’s residence at Khumaltar. The two is learnt to have discussed issues pertaining to formation of government, continuing with the present alliances and power sharing, according to Nepali Congress sources.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML, the main opposition party led by K.P. Sharma Oli has received highest number of votes under proportionate election method, that is, 2769,523 followed by Nepali Congress which secured 2639,619 votes. Similarly, CPN-Maoist Centre has so far received 1190,991 votes, followed by Rastriya Swotantra Party with 116,313 votes and Rastriya Prajatantra Party with 585,462 votes. Likewise, Janata Samajwadi Party and Janamat Party have received 420,926 and 384,299 votes respectively.

As no single party is in a position to security majority seats in HoR to form government there is no alternative to form a coalition government forging collaboration between two or more parties and independent candidates and smaller parties will have key role in formation of the government. Although both Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are trying to gain support from smaller parties, with just 44 seats in the HoR under direct election, chances of UML leading the next government is very slim, according to observers.