The losing streak continues for the candidates vying for the post of prime minister, with the conclusion of the fifth round of voting Monday.

Neither of the candidates, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal or NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel, secured a simple majority in this afternoon’s election. Dahal secured 246 votes, while Paudel only managed 124, both well short of the majority vote of 301. The UML and the Madhesi alliance, which have a critical role in deciding who becomes the prime minister, stayed neutral in today’s election, as they have done previously. The UML has been urging the Maoists and NC to withdraw their candidacies and begin a new process to find a consensus candidate for the post. Existing house regulations stipulate that voting will continue until a PM is elected through a clear majority, or until one of the candidates back out.