A communist party leader was the only candidate Saturday as Nepal's parliament prepared to select a new prime minister and end weeks of political turmoil, the parliament spokesman said. Madhav Kumar Nepal of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) was the only person to file nomination papers and would be elected unopposed, spokesman Mukunda Sharma was quoted as saying by Associated Press. The selection of a new prime minister who will form a new coalition government is intended to end the turmoil prompted by the May 4 resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist rebel chief, following a dispute with Nepal's president. Dahal's party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), then began blocking parliamentary proceedings, but ended its protest several days ago, allowing the speaker to set Saturday's election. Maoist lawmaker Posta Bahadur Bogati said they would not participate in the election. Madhav Kumar Nepal, 56, has the backing of 22 political parties and 350 members in the 601-seat parliament, more than the simple majority required to be elected. Sharma said since Madhav Kumar Nepal was the only candidate there would be no actual vote and the speaker would announce his election during the parliament session. Both Dahal's and Madhav Kumar Nepal's parties are communist but differ in policies and beliefs.
