K P Sharma Oli appointed Nepal’s Prime Minister for the fourth time, swearing in today

At 11 am today, 72-year-old K P Sharma Oli will be sworn in as Nepal’s new Prime Minister. On Sunday evening, President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Oli to the position, following Article 76 (2) of the Constitution, with the support of the Nepali Congress, the largest political party in parliament.

With no other contender, Oli had submitted signatures of 166 lawmakers in support, 88 HoR members from Congress and 78 from UML. In the 275-strong House of Representatives, the minimum number needed to form a government is 138.

As per the July 1 agreement between the Congress and UML after ousting the Dahal-led government, UML chair K P S Oli and Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba will take turns as prime ministers for 18 months each until the next general elections in 2027. After the oath-taking ceremony, Prime Minister Oli is expected to announce his Cabinet on Monday.

NC and UML power-sharing deal for the new cabinet will come to light today. Out of 21 Ministries will reportedly be set aside for the Congress and the UML whereas five ministries are set aside for fringe parties.

Sweta Singh (Kathmandu)