As expected, the NC’s Ram Chandra Poudel, the lone candidate for the post of prime minister, failed to secure a simple majority.

He secured 105 votes in his favour, the lowest number so far. Two lawmakers voted against, while 61 stayed neutral.

Poudel refused to quit even after repeated requests from the UCPN (Maoist) and the UML, who have pulled out from the election process. He met the caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal this morning to ask for his support, reminding him that the NC had supported him to become the PM, but in vain.

NC has put a condition for withdrawal of candidacy- the UCPN Maoists should quit the politics of violence first and implement the past agreements.

The Business Advisory Committee of the parliament has scheduled the tenth round of election for 6 October.