Altogether 145 lawmakers participated in the voting. As the current membership of the House is 598 at least 150 members are needed for a quorum. [break]
The figure dwindled to less than one-fourth in the 601-seat parliament as the UCPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) didn´t participate in the process although they were present in the House.
Also, 10 of the 114 Nepali Congress(NC) lawmakers remained absent in the voting. NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel must secure a majority vote in parliament to get elected PM. Members from NC, Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party and MPRF-Democratic, among others, joined the voting.
The Interim Constitution says no question or resolution shall be presented for decision at any meeting of parliament unless one-fourth of the total membership is present.
As per parliamentary regulations, the Speaker checks whether the number is sufficient for a quorum only if a lawmaker so demands.
"The meeting proceeded as no lawmaker demanded a count of members present," Speaker Subas Nembang said.
"It has definitely created confusion because, in the official record, only 145 lawmakers have participated in the voting. This is a serious matter politically, if not legally," a parliament secretariat source told Republica.
Of the total of 145 lawmakers, 104 voted for Paudel, one stood against and 40 members voted to stay neutral.
Maoist and UML members have been abstaining from voting ever since leaders from the two parties reached a three-point deal two weeks ago. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal became ready to withdraw his candidacy after UML leaders agreed not to participate in voting.
Paudel can´t secure a majority in the House without support from the UML.
100 days of caretaker govt
Meanwhile, the caretaker government has completed 100 days. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal stepped down from his post on June 30 after leaders from the Maoists and his own party demanded his resignation, describing the government as a stumbling block for national consensus.
Addressing a function Thursday, Nepal said he was sad that those who claimed they would forge national consensus within an hour of his resignation have failed to do so even after 100 days. "It seems this government is going to last two months more," he said.
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