KATHMANDU, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) on Monday pulled out of the coalition government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center).
Eight ministers from the CPN-UML, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal submitted their resignations as per the party's decision.
The differences between the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center) escalated after the latter decided to support the Nepali Congress in the presidential election slated for March 9.
Dahal became the prime minister on Dec. 25 last year with the support of 169 members of the House of Representatives, including 78 from the CPN-UML and other parties.
The seven-party alliance broke down after the CPN (Maoist Center) chose to support the Nepali Congress candidate in the presidential election.
The CPN-UML and other parties in the alliance said Dahal "betrayed" them by breaking the agreement to endorse the CPN-UML candidate as the president.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which has 14 seats in the lower house, withdrew its support for the coalition government on Saturday. ■