Veteran communist leader Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN-UML on Sunday staked claim for forming a new coalition government after securing backing from a key Madhesi party, dashing hopes of Maoist chief and caretaker Premier Prachanda to return to power.
Ending the two-week-long political deadlock, the CPN-UML, which also has the support from the second largest party Nepali Congress (NC), submitted signatures of 346 members from over 20 parties in the 601-strong Constituent Assembly to the House Chairman Subhas Nemwang. A simple majority requires support of 301 members.
The CPN-UML-led alliance's Prime Ministerial candidate Nepal, accompanied by NC's Sher Bahadur Deuba and Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) leader Vijaya Gachchhadar, handed over the signatures to Nemwang, claiming stake over the next government.
Nepal's party said it has also received "verbal assurance" of support from CPN-United, which has five MPs.
"So far, the UML-led alliance has got support from 351 Parliament members from 22 political parties as we have also got verbal assurance from (5 members) of CPN-United," said CPN-UML leader Shanker Pokharel.
CPN-UML, the third largest party, has 108 seats while Nepali Congress led by former Premier Girija Prasad Koirala has 112.
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