PM Oli wins vote of confidence in Nepal Parliament

Kathmandu: Nepal’s newly-elected Prime Minister K.P. Oli on Sunday won a historic vote of confidence with two-thirds majority in the country’s Lower House of Parliament.

Mr Oli, who was appointed to the post on February 15, secured 208 votes out of total 268 Parliament members present in the House of Representatives, officials said.

The 66-year-old Oli received the backing of all political parties, except the main Opposition, the Nepali Congress and  some fringe parties who voted against him.

He received 121 votes from CPN-UML, 52 from CPN (Maoist Centre), 16 each from Rastriya Janta Party Nepal and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal and one each from Rastriya Janamorcha, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nepal Workers Peasants Party and an independent lawmaker, the officials said.

Mr Oli has consolidated his position by securing more than two thirds majority votes, the officials said. Speaker of the Parliament Krishna Bahadur Mahara has announced next session of the Parliament on Friday.

Earlier, Mr Oli had called on all political parties to support the government. The Nepali Congress had said it would not support Mr Oli and play the role of an effective opposition.

According to the new Constitution, the Prime Minister needs to win a confidence motion in Parliament within six months after his appointment.