Prachanda fails to make it as Nepal PM

Kathmandu, Sep 7 (ANI): Maoists leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' failed to become Nepal's new Prime Minister in the seventh round of voting held at the Constituent Assembly hall in New Baneshwor on Tuesday, as a breakaway group of Madheshi Front, whose support he was banking on, preferred to stay away from voting in Parliament at the last moment.

Prachanda fell far short of majority support in the fresh round of voting in the constituent assembly, which failed to end an impasse that has held up vital government spending and threatened the fragile peace process.

He managed to get only 252 votes, far short of 301 required to get elected with Madhesi Front opting to stay out.

It has been reported that over 110 lawmakers voted against him, while 159 stayed neutral.

Earlier on Sunday, the Parliament in Nepal voted for a sixth time for the post of Prime Minister.

In the fifth run off, Maoists leader Prachanda had secured 246 votes, while 111 votes were cast against him. Some 206 lawmakers opted for the "no vote" section in the ballot paper. Altogether 563 lawmakers participated in the voting process.

The previous five elections held on August 23, August 6, July 21, July 23 and August 2 had failed to elect a prime minister.

The House is holding elect the successor of Madhav Kumar Nepal, who resigned from the country's top executive post on June 30. (ANI)