In a special session called by the Parliament, Oli’s confidence motion received support from only 93 members, while 124 members voted against it. With four members currently suspended from the 275-member House, Oli needed at least 136 votes to retain power, falling short of the required majority. Following the vote, President Bidya Devi Bhandari called on all political parties to stake a claim for forming the next government.
During the vote, 124 members opposed the motion, 15 members remained neutral, and 35 members were absent. The loss of support came after the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre), led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', withdrew backing for Oli’s government, leaving it in a minority. The ruling Nepal Communist Party (UML) issued a party whip, urging all its MPs to vote in favor of the Prime Minister, but it was insufficient to secure the majority.
This is the first time since Nepal’s 2015 Constitution came into effect that a government has lost a confidence vote in the lower house. According to constitutional provisions, President Bhandari has now invited parties to form a new government.
Nepal’s political turmoil began on December 20 last year when President Bhandari, acting on Oli’s recommendation, dissolved Parliament and scheduled new elections for April 30 and May 10. Oli had initially become Prime Minister in February 2018 with the support of the Communist Party of Nepal. Later, in February 2021, the Supreme Court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, but political instability persisted.
With Oli’s loss in the confidence vote, Nepal now enters a new phase of political uncertainty, as parties negotiate to form a majority government in accordance with constitutional guidelines.
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