7th round vote for PM Tuesday; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 5 Sept.: Seventh round of voting for prime minister will be held Tuesday after Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel again failed to collect the 301 votes for a simple majority Sunday to succeed Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Parliament’s business advisory committee fixed 8th round vote on 26 September if Tuesday’s contest is again inconclusive.
Of 504 ballots cast, Prachanda got 240 votes in his favour, 101 votes against while others stayed neutral.
Paudel received 122 votes, 242 against and 142 stayed neutral.
PM Nepal, who is a caretaker for more than two months said sarcastically,” There’s no outlet even after it was promised in two hours after my resignation. What reply will they give? I am in search for the responsible person,” the government chief said after voting in parliament.
‘The constitution can’t be amended. The party position [to stay neutral] will continue until peace and a constitution is guaranteed.” UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said indicating the prolonged standoff will continue.
“I didn’t lose. Nobody has won,” Paudel said.
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Khum Bahadur Khadka, ChitralekhaYada join Deuba camp

Kathmandu, 5 Sept.: Khum Bahadur Khadka and Chitralekha Yadav Sunday joined the Sher Bahadur Dueba camp in Deuba’s bid to wrest the presidency of NC.
Yadav is contesting for party treasurer in the 12th general convention from 17 to 21 September in the capital.
Khadka proposed names of Deuba for president, Bimalendra Nidhi for general secretary and Yadav for treasurer.
Khadka is contesting only for central committee membership.
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Rakesh Sood lends support to govt. on UNMIN

Kathmandu, 5 Sept.: Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood in an hour-long meeting with Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday assured Indian ‘help and support’ for any decision government takes on the tenure on UNMIN that ends 15 September, Nepal’s political aide said..
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote to the premier and asked the to maintain the mandate without change amid threats to call back UNMIN.
Government, to Maoist protests, is pushing for limiting the mandate by taking Nepal Army off UN monitoring.
Security council discusses Nepal and UNMIN future Tuesday in New York.
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