Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns
On Monday, Nepal’s Prime Minister, Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (also known as Prachanda), resigned from his post after a confrontation with the president. Following the dramatic May 4 announcement, Dr. Sagar Prasai, The Asia Foundation’s deputy country representative in Nepal, told Bloomberg News, “A national unity government is the only viable option. It is very difficult for an alternative government by other parties and without the Maoists to be formed.” Read the full Bloomberg News story, “Nepal’s Premier Resigns Amid Row Over Army Chief.” Dr. Prasai can be reached at sagar@taf.org.np.
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The Asia Foundation’s “Election Season: Nepal” video series documents events surrounding the country’s 2008 election, during which Prachanda’s CPN-Maoist party won a plurality of seats in Nepal’s Constituent Assembly. The Foundation’s video footage was shot during the build-up to the elections. Watch the series on YouTube, including “Part One: Campaign” that shows Dr. Prasai as he walks through a motorcycle rally for the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), and “Part Six: Polls Close” in which Dr. Prasai visits the poll observer’s headquarters on election eve as reports from observers across Nepal come in.