The UML central committee meeting on Tuesday concluded they would vie for the post of prime minister and proposed party chairman Jhalanath Khanal as their candidate for the post of prime minister, provided he would make an effort to forge a consensus for a national unity government.

The party’s Monday meeting failed to come to a decision as the members were divided on whether to support an NC candidate or to present a candidate of their own. Khanal’s opponents within the UML had argued there was no point leading a new coalition after forcing the resignation of the Madhav Nepal-led government. But Khanal’s supporters were encouraged by the Maoist decision to support Khanal instead of fielding their own candidate.

However, by the time the UML meeting concluded, the Maoists’ meeting had also approved party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as their candidate for PM. The meeting also took the decision to support Khanal if Dahal failed to garner the required majority to form a government.

The Maoists and the UML can make up a majority to form a government. As they have both fielded candidates, they are expected to continue to lobby for the post of prime minister until the election slated for tomorrow. “If no candidate receives a clear majority, there will be another election,” said Mukunda Sharma, spokesperson of the parliamentary secretariat. “Then the Parliamentary Business Committee will have to set another election date.”

Khanal, Dahal, and Ram Chandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress registered their nominations at the parliamentary secretariat on Tuesday evening. Madhav Nepal nominated Khanal, seconded by deputy Parliamentary party leader Bishnu Poudel. Similarly, Dahal was nominated by his deputy Narayan Kaji Shrestha and seconded by Baburam Bhattarai. Sher Bahadur Deuba nominated Poudel, who was seconded by general secretary KB Gurung.