The Legislature-Parliament has kicked off at the Parliament Building in Kathmandu on Sunday to pick the 38th prime minister of the country.

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chief KP Sharma Oli are contending for the coveted post. A candidate has to secure a majority or 299 votes of the total 598 votes to become the next PM.

With support from UCPN (Maoist), Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and numbers of other fringe parties, UML Chairman Oli remains favourite for the PM seat. Sushil Koirala, besides the lawmakers from his own party, is expected to have the backing of the Madhesi parties for the post he quit on Saturday. Koirala had registered his name for the election on Saturday after stepping down from the PM post.

MJF-Loktantrik to vote Oli

Bijay Kumar Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) has decided to support CPN-UML candidate KP Sharma Oli during today’s PM election.

A meeting was held between UML, Maoist and MJF-Loktantrik before the election process commenced.

MJF-L has 14 lawmakers.