Kathmandu, July 23 (IANS) The charisma of Nepal’s best known revolutionary, Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ faded further Friday when he failed to win the prime ministerial poll, for the second time in 48 hours.
The 55-year-old, who had obtained overwhelming majority in the same election two years ago, could not even secure simple majority in a parliament with 599 voters, with over 200 MPs sitting in abstention in protest.
Prachanda could obtain only 241 votes while 113 MPs voted against him and 218 abstained.
Friday’s vote saw the Maoist supremo lose one vote since Wednesday’s election when he won 242 votes.
However, he will get another chance on Aug 2 when the poll is likely to be held again.
(Sudeshna Sarkar can be contacted at sudeshna.s@ians.in)
