Nepal is facing a political crisis after the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced his support for a presidential candidate from the opposition party. This move has caused four ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Rajendra Lingden, to resign from the ruling coalition. Analysts believe that this turmoil could lead to a new coalition being formed.
The current government is headed by Dahal, a former Maoist rebel who goes by his nom de guerre Prachanda. This is his third time in power since his Maoist group abandoned their decade-long armed revolt and joined a United Nations-assisted peace process and mainstream politics in 2006.
The Maoists secured the most parliamentary seats in the 2008 elections and Dahal became prime minister. However, he resigned a year later due to differences with the president. Since then, Nepal has seen 11 governments since it abolished its 239-year monarchy in 2008 and became a republic.
The political instability has had a negative impact on Nepal’s economy. Investors have been scared away and the $40bn economy has been held back. This is why the current crisis is so concerning as it could lead to further economic issues if not resolved soon.
The PM’s office has confirmed that the four ministers have resigned but did not say whether the resignations had been accepted. The presidential election is scheduled for next month and it remains to be seen how this crisis will be resolved. It is clear that the political situation in Nepal needs to be stabilized in order for the country to move forward and achieve economic growth.