Election for prime minister again inconclusive (DEVELOPING STORY)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 6 Aug.: A runoff parliamentary election for prime minister was again inconclusive Friday as 26 Maoist legislators didn’t even participate in voting.
Many legislators didn’t even participate in the staggered voting Friday.
Prachanda and VC Vice-president Ram Chanda Paudel didn’t muster the required 301 votes in the 601-member parliament to ensure their election by simple majority for the fourth time, Speaker Subash Nemwang announced.
Maoist chief got 213 votes for while 99 legislators voted against him while 468 lawmakers stayed neutral.
Prachanda failed to secure a majority by 41 votes in the previous round Monday.
Many Madesh legislators, even ministers, couldn’t vote when the process started at 2.20 in the afternoon.
Paudel secured 122 votes in his favour, while 245 parliamentarians abstained and 194 remained neutral.
While 133 legislators didn’t participate in voting for Prachanda only 41 persons were present during the vote for Paudel.
Many members absented themselves despite whips issued by major parties for the presence of their members.
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