M A I N   N E W S

Prachanda withdraws from PM race

Kathmandu, September 17
Following his failure to get majority support in Parliament seven times in a row, Maoist chief Prachanda today withdrew from the prime ministerial election after a deal with the CPN-UML, paving the way for formation of a national consensus government in Nepal.

Nearly three months after the 22-party coalition led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal collapsed, seven rounds of poll failed to elect a new leader, with both Prachanda and 65-year-old RC Poudyal unable to get majority support of the lawmakers in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

Former prime minister Prachanda and CPN-UML president Jhala Nath Khanal today reached a deal that the Maoists would withdraw from the Prime Ministerial race and both the parties would not take part in the next round of election for the post on September 26, Maoist vice president Narayan Kaji Shrestha “Prakash” said.

“Our party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Prachanda has decided to withdraw from the race after we reach an agreement with CPN-UML,” said Shrestha. — PTI