File photo Beleaguered Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli was driven further to the brink on Monday as he lost a crucial trust vote in parliament. The vote followed his rival and CPN (Maoist Centre) leader P K Dahal Prachanda’s decision to withdraw support to his government. Seen initially by many as a Chinese acolyte, Oli had made repeated efforts to reach out to India in the recent past as he managed to hang on to power virtually by the skin of his teeth. Oli secured only 93 votes in the 275-member lower house of parliament during a special session. Hours after Oli lost the trust vote, President Bidya Devi Bhandari called on political parties to form a majority government within next three days. After losing the confidence vote, the PM is automatically removed from his post and now the new coalition government will be formed as per the constitutional process, said senior Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh. Oli though can still stake a claim to form government again if the House fails to throw up a government as he remains the leader of a party that still has the highest number of MPs. Senior leader of CPN-Maoist Ganesh Shah said that Oli should immediately resign. The CPNMaoist will join hands with the Nepali Congress and other parties who voted against Oli to form a coalition government at the earliest, he said. However, if this government fails to prove majority, the president can invoke Article 76 (3) to appoint as PM the leader of the party which has the highest number of members in the House.