December 20: A month after the general election, the process of selecting a prime minister has finally initiated. With the publication of the final results of the elections held in one phase across the country on November 20, the president has called upon the newly-elected lawmakers to submit claims to the post of prime minister.

Members of the House of Representatives who are able to obtain a majority with the support of two or more parties have been urged submit their claim to form a new government not later than 5:00 pm on December 25. No party has achieved a clear majority in parliament.

Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who led the five-party ruling alliance in the election, is a strong contender for the post of prime minister. However, the Nepali Congress is yet to choose its parliamentary party leader who shall become the new PM if the party succeeds in securing help from its coalition partners or other fringe parties.

NC President Deuba is likely to face challenge from NC General Secretary Gagan Thapa, senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel, and Shekhar Koirala and Prakash Man Singh all of whom are aspiring to become prime minister. The NC has announced election for parliamentary party leader on Wednesday.

Similarly, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the CPN Maoist Center, is also aspiring to become the new prime minister from the ruling alliance.

The main opposition party CPN-UML is also preparing to take the leadership of the government as it seeks to break the ruling alliance. UML Chairman  KP Oli is also communicating with various political parties and appealing to support him for the formation of a new government.

A political party requires 138 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives to form a new government.

The Nepali Congress has secured 89 seats in the lower house followed by the CPN-UML with 78 seats and the CPN Maoist Centre a distant third with 32 seats.