KATHMANDU – Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal faced a political crisis on Wednesday after a key ally in his multi-party coalition withdrew support, leaving his government in a minority in parliament just four months after the coalition was formed.
The liberal Communist Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) party, which was the largest group supporting Dahal’s government since March, announced its withdrawal of support. The UML also stated that eight ministers it had nominated to the coalition would resign.
UML officials indicated that their party and the opposition Nepali Congress, the two largest groups in parliament, would unite to form a new coalition and replace the one led by Dahal.
“The new alliance is for stability,” UML’s Pradeep Gyawali told Reuters, without providing further details.
Nepal, strategically situated between China and India, has long struggled with factional infighting and political egos that have hindered the formation of stable governments. Since becoming a republic and abolishing a 239-year monarchy in 2008, Nepal has had 13 different governments.
Dahal, 69, a former Maoist rebel leader, has changed allies three times since becoming prime minister following the 2022 parliamentary elections. His Maoist Centre party stated that Dahal would not resign but would face a vote of confidence in parliament within 30 days as required.
Prakash Sharan Mahat, a spokesman for the Nepali Congress, said UML chief K.P. Sharma Oli, 72, and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, 78, would share the prime minister’s post until the next election in November 2027.