UML establishes lead informing govt. (DEVELOPING STORY)

Kathmandu, 21 July: UML established a lead in forming a government but is still short of the 410 votes required to from an administration with a two-third majority—a rider not required by the constitution but imposed by the party itself.
With Maoist support the party of caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has confirmed support of 338 legislators—the support of 401 lawmakers to confirm Chairman Jhalanath Khanal as Nepal’s successor.
Maoists sent a letter to UML Wednesday promising conditional support for Khanal; UCPN (Maoist) retains the right to put up a candidate if UML doesn’t gather the support of 401 legislators.
A front of four Madesh parties—the fourth largest group in the legislature--,hasn’t decided and is likely to abstain in voting forcing a second round voting Friday after an inconclusive vote.
CPN (ML), with nine votes, supported UML along with several small parties.
“The vote will be indecisive today as some parties are likely to abstain. Friday’s vote will be decisive,” NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said.
The so-called ‘democratic alliance’ of 22 parties has been rocked with the latest development with NC asking UML not to break the coalition.
UML and Maoists can forge a majority government as required in the constitution should the two largest communities decide.
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“Messy times require complex thinkers and courageous doers, not just a party chief or an easy charmer. J.N. comrade is a fine man, has been elected chair by his party workers at the last convention but the way he has been ignored, challenged and rebelled against by his party leaders doesn’t make him a persuasive leader for Nepal’s problems at present.”

(Columnist Pramod Mishra, The Kathmandu Post, 21 July)