President Ramchandra Paudel on Friday called on members of the House of Representatives to stake claim for the post of prime minister showing a majority with the support of two or more political parties in the lower house.

The Office of the President, in a statement, has called on the House members to present the majority through the support of parties represented in the lower house by Sunday evening.

“The President, in accordance with Article 76 (2) of the constitution, calls on House of Representative members to show a majority in order to be appointed as the prime minister of Nepal with the support of two or more political parties of the House of Representatives by 5 pm on Sunday,” the statement reads.

Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal lost his position on Friday, over 18 months after his appointment, as he failed to secure a vote of confidence during a floor test in the House of Representatives.

Dahal couldn’t secure the 138 votes required to endorse the trust motion as only 63 lawmakers voted in his favour in the 275-strong House of Representatives. A total of 194 lawmakers voted against him, while a member cast a no vote. A total of 258 lawmakers were present in Friday’s meeting of the lower House.

With the President’s call, the Nepali Congress and the UML are all set to claim the prime ministerial post for UML chair KP Sharma Oli as per the deal the two parties reached on July 1.