The breakaway Nepali Congress (Democratic) party has been granted the status of an independent political party in the revived House of Representatives following full support from five political parties represented in the parliament, including the CPN-UML.

With its new status of an independent political outfit, NC(D) will have control over its 39 members of Parliament (MPs).

“This would not perhaps have been possible had there not been enough support to us from the five alliance partners,” reports quoted NC (D) general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi as saying.

“It was agreed that while NC(D) would back Koirala as the PM, NC would back the NC(D) claim for independent status,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) initiated initial discussions on a constituent assembly as the next political agenda.

The party had on Sunday backed the agenda of the seven-party alliance to go for election to a constituent assembly.

As per the Parliament Act, to be registered as a separate party in the parliament, any breakaway faction needs at least 40 percent of the total MPs of the parent party. The NC had 113 seats in the erstwhile parliament however only 40 MP are in NC (D).