KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – Nepal’s prime minister resigned on Sunday shortly before he was to face a confidence vote in parliament that he expected to lose, further aggravating political instability in the Himalayan country.
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli’s 6-month-old government lost its majority support after the Maoist party pulled out of the coalition this month, accusing Oli of failing to honor power-sharing agreements.
In a speech in parliament that was broadcast live on television and radio, Oli said that the way he was forced to resign would have far-reaching implications for the country and lead to further political instability.
“The opposition parties hatched a conspiracy for narrow interests, and I am stunned by that,” he said.
“I have already submitted my resignation letter to the president and have informed the speaker about the resignation, paving the way for the election of a new prime minister,” Oli said in the speech, which came an hour before the confidence vote was to be held.