2024-07-04 07:54:08
Kathmandu: Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to resign and pave the way for the formation of a new government. Ruling coalition partners CPN-UML withdrew support after a power-sharing agreement with the largest party (Nepali Congress) to remove Prachanda. “The Prime Minister should resign as the largest parties Nepali Congress and UML have said that they will form a new government together,” Deuba told reporters after a crucial meeting at his residence in Budhanilkantha on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
Deuba and Oli formed a new alliance
Both former prime ministers, Deuba (78) and Nepal Communist Party-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) chairman K P Sharma Oli (72), signed a power-sharing deal on Monday night to form a new government. They agreed to share the prime minister’s post on a rotational basis for the remainder of parliament’s term.
Oli’s party withdrew support from Prachanda
Meanwhile, the largest party in the ruling coalition, CPN-UML, withdrew support from the government led by Prime Minister Prachanda. UML’s campaign committee deputy chief Bishnu Rijal said, “Our party has withdrawn support from the government.” Prachanda’s cabinet has eight ministers from CPN-UML, including Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure and Transport Minister Raghubir Mahaseth. CPN-UML joined the government on March 5.
All UML ministers submitted their resignations
Rijal said that all the UML ministers have submitted their resignation to the Prime Minister. In the 275-member House of Representatives, the largest party is the Nepali Congress with 89 members, while the CPN-UML has 78 members. Thus, their combined strength is 167 which is more than the 138 seats required for a majority in the lower house. At the same time, Prachanda’s party has 32 members.
Oli and Deuba will become PM in turns
The Nepali Congress Central Work Performance Committee (CWC) met at Deuba’s residence during the day to discuss the current political situation and the party’s future strategy. Talking to reporters after the meeting, party spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said, “In the meeting, the political situation in the country was reviewed and the future strategy was discussed.” He said the meeting also endorsed the agreement between Deuba and Oli to form a new coalition and share the post of prime minister in rotation. The meeting mainly discussed the agenda and modalities of forming a new coalition government.
Oli will first take over the PM’s chair
The seven-point agreement reached between Deuba and Oli on Monday night includes sharing the remaining three years of the Parliament term between the two parties, division of portfolios, provincial leadership roles and rotation of the prime minister’s post. First Oli will take over as prime minister and after one and a half years, the Nepali Congress will get the leadership of the government.
Other parties also announced support
After the meeting, Mahat said, “The Prime Minister should pave the way for the formation of a new government after saying that the biggest parties – Nepali Congress and UML – will come together. This is also included in the decision.” Other parties are also supporting the new Nepali Congress-UML alliance. Therefore, the Nepali Congress CWC has requested the Prime Minister to pave the way for the formation of a new government. Mahat said that if the Prime Minister does not pave the way for the formation of a new government, then it will be formed through the constitutional process.
where will the Janata Samajwadi Party go
Meanwhile, Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal spokesperson Manish Suman said that his party will support the new alliance but has not yet decided on joining the government. JSP Nepal has five MPs. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has 14 members and the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party has four members in the House of Representatives. Both these parties have also indicated to support the new alliance.
Prachanda refused to resign
However, embattled Prime Minister Prachanda has refused to resign from the post and has said that he would like to face a vote of confidence in Parliament. According to the constitutional provision, the Prime Minister who loses majority in the House has to prove majority within 30 days. The Prime Minister will have to seek a vote of confidence after the ruling coalition withdraws support.
Oli’s party appealed to Prachanda to resign
The CPN-UML has urged Prime Minister Prachanda to step down so that a new government can be formed as per the constitutional provision. It also appealed to all political parties to join the “National Government” led by Oli to strengthen political stability in the country. Nepal has had 13 governments in the last 16 years.