The US, the European Union, India, China and other countries have welcomed the election of new Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal in Nepal where the nation’s functioning post was vacant for seven months following the resignation of the outgoing Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Series of quarrels among the major political parties–Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoist, the Nepali Congress, the Unified Marxist-Leninist and other Terai-based parties–had continued over the issue of heading the government.
The Nepali Congress and a faction of the Unified Marxist-Leninist have been opting for an anti-Maosit alliance while the Maoist party (50% peace process stakeholder in the country) has objected to the idea.
Mr. Khanal was elected on Thursday evening as the Maoist Chairman and prime ministerial candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda withdrew his candidature and supported him.
Terai-based rightist leader Vijay Kumar Gachchhedar and Nepali Congress candidate Ram Chandra Poudel have expressed their outrage at the sudden withdrawal of Prachanda’s candidature to support Khanal.
Analysts say the Nepali Congress is likely to stay in the Opposition, posing challenges for the drafting of a new constitution and the conclusion of the current peace process meant to manage the decade-long Maoist armed insurgency.