Oli, who became Nepal’s PM for the second time in 2018 as the candidate of a left-wing alliance, failed to win enough backers in the House of Representatives of the legislature, The Himalayan Times website referred.

The PM asked to prove his majority after the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal withdrew support for his government.

Of the 232 lawmakers present in the Lower House of Parliament, 124 voted against Oli and 93 in favor, with 15 abstentions, The Rising Nepal website reported.

Oli needed at least 136 votes from the 275 members of the House to win the confidence motion, as four MPs are suspended.

The crisis was triggered by differences within the ruling Communist Party of Nepal, which came to power in February 2018 following the merger of Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center).

At Oli’s urging, President Bhandari dissolved Parliament on December 20 and moved up general elections to April and May, a year ahead of schedule.

However, the Supreme Court annulled the dissolution of the legislature in February, while there were massive protests for and against the prime minister.

rly/omr/jcm/abm