Kathmandu, Jan 10 : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has clarified that no agreement was reached with the Nepali Congress (NC) in the process of securing a vote of confidence in the parliament.
Talking to journalists in the federal parliament building premises after gaining the vote of confidence at the House of Representatives (HoR) on Tuesday, PM Dahal made it clear that there was no agreement with the political parties to that end.
Recalling that he had garnered the vote of confidence of entire parliament on Monday, PM Dahal said, adding, “I had expressed my optimism yesterday that I would gain the vote of confidence of the entire parliament”. “It was based on an assumption.
But today, it has come to reality. It has added to my energy”, PM Dahal said. He further noted that the umpteen support he received in the parliament has made him proud while it has also added challenges.
“The vote of confidence garnered in my support in the parliament made me more responsible to translate my commitments into action”, the PM said. PM Dahal received over two third majority vote of confidence in the HoR.
He received 268 votes in course of securing vote of confidence at HoR earlier today. President Bidya Devi Bhandari had appointed CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Dahal the Prime Minister on December 25. It may be noted that the CPN (Maoist Centre) emerged to be the third largest party with 32 seats in the HoR election held on November 20.
Dahal has gained vote of confidence from the HoR as per the Article 76 (4) of the Constitution. Meanwhile, speaking to media, Nepali Congress Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka said they had made a special decision after assessing the overall country context.
Recalling that the NC had given vote of confidence to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari in 2051 BS, Khadka informed that the party has again made such special decision.
He made it clear that NC has lent support to the Prime Minster so as to help materialize the commitments they made before the people during elections in regard to the economic stability, safeguarding of the constitution and completion of peace process.
Khadka clarified that they would however play the role of opposition in the parliament. He further said NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba had made it clear the reasons behind giving vote of confidence to the PM.
Likewise, NC senior leader Ramchandra Poudel commented that they had given vote of confidence to the PM so as to mend the ‘hijacking’ of the coalition which was made to safeguard the constitution.
