The eighth round of prime ministerial election also failed to elect a new prime minister on Sunday, 26 September.

NC candidate Ram Chandra Poudel, the lone candidate running in the election for the post of prime minister, secured only 116 votes in his favour out of 189 votes cast on Sunday’s election. Two lawmakers voted against him and 71 stayed neutral. UCPN (Maoist) and UML abstained from voting.

Earlier, UCPN (Maoist) formally withdrew its candidacy for the post in the parliament session. Maoist vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai had tabled the proposal to withdraw his motion to elect party chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal for the post of prime minister, which was passed by a majority in the House.

PM candidate Poudel had objected to Bhattarai’s proposal saying the withdrawal should have been done while registering the candidacy. The CA chair Subas Nembang ruled out Poudel’s objection and the House accepted Bhattarai’s proposal.

Dahal had announced the withdrawal of his candidacy two weeks ago after signing a deal with UML, which said that they would remain neutral until there is a consensus candidate for the post.

Earlier, UCPN (Maoist) and UML requested Nembang to amend the parliamentary regulations to end the on-going process. Nembang told them the rounds of voting will continue until a candidate gets an absolute majority.

The ninth round of the prime ministerial elections will be held on 30 September.