Election of deputy speaker of HoR today: All you need to know about votes

KATHMANDU, July 15: Voting for the election of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) is scheduled for 3 PM on Friday. Pushpa Bushla, leader of Nepali Congress, backed by the ruling alliance and Bidya Bhattarai of CPN-UML, the main opposition party, are contesting for the post. As the ruling alliance of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) and Rastriya Janamorcha Party have majority in parliament, election of Bhusal as new deputy speaker of the lower house is very much likely. There are currently 275 lawmakers in the lower house. Of them, 98 represents the CPN-UML. Nepali Congress has 63 lawmakers, CPN (MC) has 49, CPN (US) has 23, JSP has 19 and Rastriya Janamorch Party has one making a total of 155 for the ruling alliance. Likewise, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, which has already announced its support for the ruling alliance, has 13 lawmakers. With this, Bhusal seems to have the support of as many as 137 lawmakers. For Bhattarai, the number stands at 101 including support from Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party and independent lawmakers.