Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal resigned on Wednesday. Pic: Bikram Rai

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal resigned on Wednesday, keeping his promise to hand over the PM’s Chair to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba after the first phase of local elections.

Dahal wanted to announce his resignation in Parliament on Tuesday, but the opposition UML obstructed House proceedings, slamming the government for creating 22 new local units ahead of the second phase of local elections on 14 June.

Parliament was adjourned again on Wednesday, so Dahal announced his resignation in a 28-minute televised address to the nation in which he listed the achievements of his nine months in office: holding the first phase of local elections, ending Nepal’s chronic electricity shortage, and signing an agreement with China on its Belt and Road Initiative.

“People have not chosen agents of Singha Darbar but Executive Chiefs of Singha Darbars in their own villages through local elections,” Dahal said. “It would not have been possible if I had calculated whether my party would win or lose.”

Dahal said the first phase of local elections was a “grand success”, and hoped that the rest of Nepalis will also take part in the second phase of polls.

In August last year, Dahal had promised to vacate Baluwatar for Deuba in return for the NC’s support to the Maoists-led coalition government. “Gentlemen’s agreements are often violated  in Nepali politics, but I am keeping to my word,” he said. “I am stepping down as per my promise to the NC.”

After his address, Dahal headed towards Shital Niwas to submit his resignation to President Bidya Bhandari. Analysts say Dahal could have his eye on Provincial and Parliamentary elections later this year, in which he will want to make up for this party’s poor showing in local elections.