In a quick turn of events, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was appointed the prime minister on Thursday, immediately after PM Sher Bahadur Deuba resigned.

Oli is the first leader to be elected PM following the parliamentary elections held after the promulgation of the constitution that institutionalised federalism. Leaders from the left alliance of the UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) had reached the President’s Office at around 9am claiming a majority in the federal parliament even before Deuba announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation. President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed Oli the PM immediately after Deuba tabled his resignation at her office at noon.

In a statement, President Bhandari said Oli was appointed the PM according to Article 76 (2) of the constitution, which says in case no party has a clear majority in the House of Repre-sentatives (HoR), the President shall appoint as the prime minister a member of the House who can command a majority with support from two or more parties. Oli will have to win a vote of confidence in Parliament within 30 days.

The Maoist Centre, which is having final negotiations on unification with the UML, supported Oli before he was sworn in by President Bhandari on Thursday evening.

Due to constitutional complexities, it took more than two months for the left alliance to form the government. Though ele-ctions for the Lower House concluded on December 7, the Election Commission waited for the National Assembly (NA) vote citing the constitutional requirement of 33 percent women’s share in bicameral federal Parliament. 

The EC on Wednesday evening submitted the proportional representation (PR) results of the HoR to the President. PM Oli took charge along with two other Cabinet members. Lal Babu Pandit has been appointed the minister for population and environment while Tham Maya Thapa has got the charge of the Women, Children and Social Welfare Ministry.

“I’ll work with honesty in favour of the people and the entire nation,” Oli said at the UML Parliamentary Party meeting held after his appointment. The meeting unanimously elected Oli as PP leader.

In a marathon meeting between top leaders of the UML and the Maoist Centre on Wednesday, an agreement was reached to present Oli as the joint candidate for the PM’s post. Oli, who became PM for the first time with the backing of the Maoist Centre in October 2015, got elected a second time with support from the same party.

The two parties contested the federal and provincial elections by forming an alliance on the plank of prosperity and stability. The people endorsed their agenda with a thumping majority.

In the 275-member HoR, the two parties command more than 63 percent seats—174—while they jointly enjoy a two-thirds majority in the Upper House with 40 members. Besides, they have already formed six of the seven provincial governments.