By Our Reporter
The new constitution drafted and promulgated by the two constituent assemblies seems to have failed five years after its promulgation. It is evident from the fact that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli outright violated it by announcing snap polls when the Constitution had not given him any right to do so. Although the Supreme Court gave a verdict that what Oli did was unconstitutional, he did not think it necessary to step down. Instead, he insisted during an all-party meeting called by the President on Tuesday that his move to go to for fresh polls was constitutional.
The restored parliament has failed to enter businesses. Moreover, Prime Minister Oli tends to rule through controversial ordinances by escaping the parliament because he could not fulfill his petty interest from the parliament even he claims he enjoys a two-thirds majority in the House. When the leaders do not abide by the constitution and decisions of the parliament and other constitutional bodies, it signals the failure of the constitution.
UML on the verge of a split
If no miracle occurs overnight, nothing is likely to prevent a split in the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist ) thanks to the arrogant and anti-constitutional activities of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The situation worsened after party chairman Oli unilaterally removed all the office bearers except for himself and the general secretary on March 12.
He took the decision from a so-called central committee meeting held at Baluwatar, but the rival faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal was not informed about the meeting that took the important decision.
Irked by the arrogant activities of party chair Oli, the Nepal led faction called a national gathering of leaders on Wednesday and Thursday, and Oli called leader Nepal for a meeting on Monday, but the meeting failed and the national gathering began on Wednesday.
Oli tried to thwart the gathering by calling an all-party meeting through President Bidya Devi Bhandari, which was boycotted by the Nepal faction. General secretary Ishwar Pokhrel issued a notice Tuesday evening urging party ranks and files not to attend the gathering. The Party chair also organised a tea reception, which was also boycotted by the Nepal camp.
Speaking at the tea reception Oli warned of taking action against the dissenting leaders. Although a majority of elected office bearers and central committee members are with the Nepal faction, Oli dared to announce to take action only because he is in power.
However, the rival faction led by Nepal did not budge and held the national gathering.
Those who engage in such activities will be punished according to the party statute, PM Oli warned.
While Nepal-faction is holding the national gathering, Bam Dev Gautam also blamed Oli for causing a split in the party.
The dissenting camp of the CPN-UML led by Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the decisions taken by a central committee meeting of March 12 have pushed the party towards division.
Speaking at a press conference organised to make public the details of the national gathering scheduled by the dissenting group for Wednesday and Thursday, leader Yogesh Bhattarai said that party chairman KP Sharma Oli had been holding the party meetings and taking decisions unilaterally, rejecting to abide by the court’s verdict.
He said all the previous committees of the CPN-UML be automatically restored as per the records endorsed by the party’s 9th general convention and the party statute.
Next PM still uncertain
After the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, three opposition political parties, as well as the rival faction of the CPN-UML, do not want to see Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli continuing his office. However, weeks after the Supreme Court restored the House terming that the dissolution was unconstitutional, they have not been able to find an alternative to Oli due mainly to the dispute in the Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal and the unwillingness of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to lead the coalition government.
One of the factions of the JSP-N that waged street demonstration against the House dissolution wants to support PM Oli while another group led by Dr Baburam Bhattarai to immediately replace Oli with a new PM. Similarly, Nepali Congress president Deuba has not taken any initiative to become PM, which has supported the speculations that he is willing to continue Oli-led government.
However, the JSPN meeting scheduled for Thursday is expected to decide as to which side the party tilts. If the party agrees to replace Oli, then Deuba is sure to become the new Prime Minister. Even if JSPN supported Oli and if the Maoist Centre withdraws its support given to the government, the Oli-led government will still be at risk as the lawmakers of the Madhav Kumar Nepal faction may cross the floor during voting causing a fall of the government. If such happens, Deuba has to become the new PM unwillingly and has to hold the elections next year.
Login to add a comment