President Ramchandra Paudel has entrusted the Pushpa Kamal Dahal government with the responsibility of carrying out its regular duties until a new government is formed.

A statement issued by the Office of the President said President Paudel, as per Article 77 (3) of the constitution, has assigned the current government to carry out its tasks until a new government is in place.

“The incumbent Cabinet has been entrusted with the responsibility of continuing its operations until a new Cabinet is formed,” read the statement. The President made the decision after the Speaker of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Office of the President stating that Prime Minister Dahal’s motion was not endorsed by a majority.

Prime Minister 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-member 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.

Soon after failing to secure a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Dahal met with President Paudel to inform him of the outcome. On Friday, Dahal moved from his official residence in Baluwatar to his private residence in Khumaltar.