Nepal parliament’s failed to elect a new prime minister in a sixth attempt Sunday, leaving the Himalayan nation in a political limbo that has frozen efforts to forge a new constitution and push ahead with development.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Communist Party of Nepal and Ram Chandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress party have been trying to form a government since June, when Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned as prime minister. Nepal is serving in a caretaker role.

The two candidates have been trying to lure political support from smaller political parties but have not been successful.

Dahal managed 240 votes of the 601 votes Sunday, while Poudel received 122 votes. The date for the next vote has yet to be set.

The delay in electing a new prime minister and a government has also delayed approval of the annual budget.

The peace process, which brought the Maoist insurgents into mainstream politics in 2006, has also stalled. Thousands of former rebels are still living in U.N.-run camps, awaiting a government decision to integrate them into the national army or try to return them to civilian life.

Associated Press