The process to form a majority government is set to start on Thursday as the seven-day deadline given by President Bidya Devi Bhandari to pick a consensus prime minister ended on Wednesday.

A day after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal tendered his resignation, President Bhandari on May 25, as per Article 298 (2) of the constitution had given seven days to political parties represented in the Legislature-Parliament to pick the new prime minister on the basis of consensus.

Dahal announced on May 24 through a nationally televises address that he was stepping down as the prime minister to honour a deal he had reached with the Nepali Congress in July-August last year.

As the deadline to pick the new prime minister on the basis of consensus ended, President Bhandari on Wednesday held consultations with political parties.

“Form a consensus government taking into consideration the situation of the country. Make the most of the day today, the last day for the formation of consensus government,” President Bhandari’s chief personal secretary Bhesh Raj Adhikari quoted her as telling the leaders.

“The process to form a new government on majority basis will start tomorrow.”

As per the constitutional provision, President Bhandari now will send a letter to the Parliament Secretariat to initiate the process of prime ministerial election as per the parliamentary regulations.   

To leaders of the major political parties, including PM Dahal, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli among others were present at the meeting in Sheetal Niwas.  

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba is most likely to take over the government helm as the 40th prime minister.

The deal between the Nepali Congress and Dahal’s party, the CPN (Maoist Centre) had it that the two parties would lead the government on rotational basis until three levels of elections are held by January 21 next year.

Dahal stepped down on May 24 after holding the first phase of local elections in Provinces 3, 4 and 6 on May 14.