Jhala Nath Khanal Resigns as Prime Minister of Nepal

The Prime Minister of Nepal has resigned creating yet another constitutional crisis for the fragile government of the nation. After having nearly missed a deadline to vote on the new constitution, politicians now have yet another deadline to meet – they must form a new government by 21st August 2011.

Mr Khanal went to visit the President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, on Sunday to tender his resignation, before making the announcement in Parliament on Monday. Jhala Nath Khanal had successfully united divided political factions in making the first steps towards a consensus government. His departure opens the door for a possible Maoist government, depending on the coalitions that form over the next week.

Both Mr Khanal and the President have called for a consensus government which bridges the political divide. The new constitution also needs ratifying by the end of August adding pressure to an already unstable situation.

Nepal signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2006 to bring an end to violence between authorities and communist rebels. Following a massacre, the royal family were removed from leadership, leaving room for a new government and an agreement to disarm the Maoist army. However, problems have beset the process with missed deadlines and political in-fighting blocking efforts to get the country back on track.


In This Story: Nepal

Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a sovereign country in South Asia. It is mainly in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is landlocked, and borders China in the north and India in the south, east and west, while Bangladesh is located within only 27 km (17 mi) of its southeastern tip and Bhutan is separated from it by the Indian state of Sikkim. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city. Nepal is a multiethnic country, with Nepali as the official language.

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