The Nepali Congress on Wednesday formally endorsed the agreement reached with the CPN-UML on the formation of a new coalition. A central work execution committee meeting of the party held at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha endorsed the deal reached between the top leaders of the two largest parties.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Congress Spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said the meeting welcomed the agreement. “The meeting endorsed the understanding reached between the top leaders of the two parties regarding the formation of the new government,” Mahat said.

The meeting also formally validated the agreement reached between the party’s President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML chair KP Sharma Oli to lead the government in turns.

In the deal, leaders from the two largest parties have reached an understanding to lead the governments in the remaining around three-and-half-year tenure of the present parliament on a rotation basis.

“The meeting also endorsed the agreement that states Oli would lead the government at first and Deuba would lead the election government in the second phase,” said Mahat.

The meeting also urged Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step down and pave the way for the formation of a ‘national consensus government’.

“The meeting concludes that it would be appropriate for the prime minister to pave the way for the formation of a new national consensus government as, following the agreement between Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, a clear majority in the House of Representatives is in favour of forming the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli,” reads a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting also expressed commitment to implement the agreement.

“The meeting expresses its determination to implement the agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML regarding leading governments on a rotation basis to protect national interests, control corruption, ensure good governance, the development, maintain political stability, amending the constitution to strengthen the federal democratic republican system and inclusiveness and to strengthen the economy.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the UML had formally requested Prime Minister Dahal to tender his resignation by Wednesday evening.

The party’s secretariat meeting decided to urge Prime Minister Dahal to step down to pave the way for the formation of a government in accordance with Article 76 (2) of the constitution.

The meeting further urged all political parties to help establish political stability by participating in the ‘national consensus’ government led by chair Oli.

The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government. As per the understanding, Oli will lead a new ‘national consensus’ government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, Deuba will be the prime minister.

Prime Minister Dahal, however, has expressed reluctance to resign immediately. The office-bearers’ meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) held in Baluwatar on Tuesday morning decided that the prime minister will not tender his resignation but instead face a trust vote in Parliament.