Deuba-Oli discuss new govt formation ahead of floor test for PM Prachanda

Ahead of a floor test for the embattled Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Friday, leaders of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have agreed to form a new coalition government after ousting the former guerrilla leader.

K P Sharma Oli-led CPN-UML, the largest party in the ruling coalition, withdrew support for the Prachanda-led government last week after inking a power-sharing deal with the largest party - Nepali Congress - to replace the former Maoist leader, who is expected to lose the confidence vote.

The Nepali Congress, the largest party in the 275-member House of Representatives, has 89 seats at present, while CPN-UML has 78 seats. Their combined strength of 167 is sufficient for a majority of 138 seats in the lower house. Prachanda's party has 32 seats.

Oli, the CPN-UML chairperson, met Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday.

The meeting between the two leaders was aimed at formulating a future strategy on how to move forward after the Nep