Modi congratulates his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba for winning vote of confidence
Kathmandu, 2021 July 18, Sunday India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening extended congratulations to newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, minutes after he won the vote of confidence in Nepal’s reinstated Parliament.
“Congratulations Prime Minister @DeubaSherbdr and best wishes for a successful tenure. I look forward to working with you to further enhance our unique partnership in all sectors, and strengthen our deep-rooted people-to-people ties,” wrote Modi in a tweet.
Deuba on Sunday evening received 165 votes in the 271-member strong lower house. He needed 136 votes to win the House confidence, as four lawmakers remain suspended.
As many as 165 lawmakers voted for Deuba and 83 against. One lawmaker remained neutral.
Deuba was appointed prime minister, for the fifth time, under Article 76 (5) on July 13 , a day after the Supreme Court passed an order to the Office of the President to that effect. The court on July 12 also reinstated the House that was dissolved by then prime minister KP Sharma Oli on May 21.
As per the constitutional provisions, Deuba needed to take the vote of confidence within 30 days from his appointment-or by August 12.
As per the court order, the Deuba Cabinet had recommended that the President summon the session of the restored House on Sunday at 4pm.
Though Deuba had until August 12 to secure the vote of confidence, he decided to do so on the first day of the House session on Sunday.
Deuba, 75, became the prime minister for the first time on September 12, 1995 and he served until March 12, 1997.
He was again appointed prime minister on July 26, 2001. But then king Gyanendra sacked him on October 4, 2002, branding him “incompetent” after he sought postpoment of elections that he had declared six months back by dissolving the Paraliament. However, after two governments, Gyanendra appointed him prime minister on June 4, 2004 only to dismiss him on February 1, 2005 when the now deposed monarch assumed absolute power in a royal-military coup.
After the promulgation of the constitution on September 20, 2015, Deuba returned to power on June 7, 2017 with the backing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). After facing a drubbing in the elections held in November-December 2017, Deuba handed over power to KP Sharma Oli on February 18, 2018.
But after Oli’s two House dissolutions in less than six months, Deuba once again took over from Oli.
After winning the vote of confidence in the House, Deuba is set to remain prime minister for a year and a half, until periodic elections are held. The Kathmandu Post
