Kathmandu:
A key party of Indian-origin people from Nepal's southern Terai plains today fielded its candidate for the post of Premier at the last minute, a move that will turn tomorrow's 17th round of polls into a four-corner contest also involving Maoist chief Prachanda and candidates from NC and CPN-UML. Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhedar of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum - Democratic (MPRF-D) filed his nomination papers in a surprise move shortly before the 4 pm deadline for the purpose expired. Gachhedar has support from two other Madhesi parties. From the single largest party UCPN-Maoist, its Chairman Prachanda filed his nomination papers, while Nepali Congress (NC) again fielded Ram Chandra Poudyal for the top post. CPN-UML of caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal put up its President Jhala Nath Khanal for tomorrow's elections, seven months after Premier Nepal resigned underintense Maoist pressure. President Ram Baran Yadav had last week directed Parliament to begin a fresh process for the election of Prime Minister on the basis of majority vote as political parties had failed to hammer out a deal to form a consensusgovernment. Prachanda, Poudyal and Khanal had earlier also contested the elections, while Gachhedar has joined the fray for the first time. To get elected for the post, a candidate requires at least 300 votes in the 601-member Constituent Assembly. Another two rounds of elections, if required, will be held on February 5 and 6 respectively. President Yadav's second deadline to form a national consensus government had expired on January 26, following 16 rounds of polls for the Premier's post which did not produce awinner. Maoists, who gave up insurgency and joined mainstream politics in 2006, have 238 seats in Parliament while NC has 113 and CPN-UML 108. The combined strength of the Madhesi parties is 83.