A series of Nepali officials resign in protest against Prime Minister Prachanda

Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Photo: AFP/VNA

Nepal's ruling coalition was thrown into turmoil on February 25 after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) announced plans to support opposition Nepali Congress candidate Ram Chandra Paudel in next month's presidential election, prompting the deputy prime minister and three other ministers to resign in protest.

In protest against Mr Prachanda's plan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Rajendra Lingden, along with the Minister of Urban Development, the Minister of Legal Affairs and a senior minister under Mr Lingden resigned.

“The coalition that we are part of in government is no longer intact. It is inappropriate for them to continue to be in government,” Mr. Lingden told reporters.

Prime Minister Prachanda's office confirmed that the four officials had resigned but did not say whether their resignations had been accepted.

Political analysts say these moves do not indicate immediate trouble for Prime Minister Prachanda's fledgling government, which still enjoys majority support in Nepal's parliament. However, experts say the turmoil could lead to the formation of a new coalition.

Nepal is scheduled to hold its third presidential election on March 9. The president, a ceremonial position in the South Asian nation, has played a key role in previous political crises.

Nepal, located between China and India, has had 11 governments since the South Asian nation abolished its monarchy in 2008. Political instability has scared off foreign investors and shrunk the size of its $40 billion economy.

According to Vietnam+