Parliament sat through another round of futile voting for the prime minister’s post on Tuesday. This was the 13th round of PM elections and the lone candidate, NC’s Ram Chandra Poudel, was again unable to obtain a simple majority in his favour.

In the election held today, 144 votes were cast, with 98 lawmakers in favour of Poudel, two against him, and 44 staying neutral.

The majority of CA members, belonging to UCPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, did not take part in the voting.

Poudel has been contesting at elections alone ever since Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal withdrew from the seventh round. CPN-UML President Jhalanath Khanal withdrew after the first round. Ahead of the 13th election, Poudel reiterated his stance that he would not withdraw his candidacy until the constitution writing and conclusion of the peace process were guaranteed.

“I won’t withdraw my candidacy until the UCPN (Maoist) makes a commitment on the guarantee of these two key issues,” he said.

The election process began on 21 July after Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned from his post on 30 June.

Following the vote, a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Legislature-Parliament decided to hold the 14th round of voting on October 29.