No winner in Nepal run-off election

Nepal's prime ministerial election run off on Friday failed to come up with a clear winner and will be held again, after ten days. UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda' got 241 votes while Nepali Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel got 123 votes, insufficient to lead a majority government. They need a minimum of 300 votes from the 599 Constituent Assembly members. Both contestants polled one less vote than what they got in Wednesday's election. Only 572 lawmakers were present when voting was held for Mr. Dahal while six more were present for Mr. Paudel. The prime ministerial candidates have not been able to gather a majority mainly because the CPN (UML) has stayed away from voting. With 109 seats in the Constituent Assembly, they have been demanding a consensus government. CPN(UML) chairman Jhalanath Khanal had filed his nomination withdrew later as the party was unable to gather two-thirds majority or 401 votes. The prime ministerial election has been indecisive also because various Madhesi parties decided to stay neutral and their total 82 votes have not been cast. The next election would be held on August 2.