Nepal political crisis: Dahal government collapses, coalition ministers resign enmasse
- In Reports
- 08:39 PM, Jul 04, 2024
- Myind Staff
After a two-day political drama, Nepal's incumbent government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" has collapsed, as coalition ministers resigned en masse, withdrawing their support. Following the expiration of a 24-hour deadline set on Tuesday, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), a key ally of the Dahal-led government, exited the coalition. The CPN-UML had issued a one-day ultimatum to Prime Minister Dahal to step down, urging him to make a "respectful exit" from his position.
On July 3, eight ministers from the CPN-UML, who were part of the cabinet formed under Prime Minister Dahal on March 4 earlier this year, submitted their resignations to the Prime Minister at his residence in Baluwatar. Prior to this, the ministers had visited the residence of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli in Balkot before proceeding to Baluwatar.
"We have resigned and submitted the letter to the Prime Minister a while ago. All eight ministers from the CPN-UML in the cabinet have informed the Prime Minister that we are no longer part of this government and withdraw our support," said Jwalakumari Sah, former Minister for Agriculture, speaking to ANI over a phone call from the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar.
On July 1st night, the UML and Congress agreed to form a new government. Under the agreement, KP Sharma Oli will lead a new national consensus government for a year and a half. Following this term, Nepal's former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will take over as prime minister for the remainder of the term.
On July 2nd, the office-bearers meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) at Baluwatar decided that Prime Minister Dahal would not immediately resign but instead face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days following the withdrawal of support.
Subsequently, on July 3rd, the Nepali Congress formally endorsed the agreement with the CPN-UML on forming a new coalition. During a central work execution committee meeting at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha, the party approved the deal between the top leaders of the two largest parties. According to the agreement, leaders from these parties have agreed to lead the government on a rotational basis for the remaining approximately three-and-a-half years of the current parliament's tenure.
"The meeting concluded that it would be appropriate for the Prime Minister to facilitate the formation of a new national consensus government, considering that a clear majority in the House of Representatives supports forming a government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli, following the agreement between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML," stated a released statement.
The meeting also reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the agreement. "The meeting expressed determination to uphold the agreement between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML regarding rotational leadership of the government, aimed at safeguarding national interests, combating corruption, ensuring good governance, fostering development, maintaining political stability, amending the constitution to strengthen the federal democratic republican system and inclusiveness, and bolstering the economy."
According to the midnight agreement between Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress and KP Sharma Oli of the CPN-UML on July 2nd, a committee has been formed under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha to propose amendments to election procedures and the constitution. As part of the overnight agreement, the largest and second-largest parties in parliament drafted a constitutional amendment stipulating that the Vice President would assume the role of Chairman of the National Assembly. Leaders from the Congress and the UML informed President Ram Chandra Paudel about the coalition change.
During the meeting, the leaders briefed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to establish a new government in the event that the incumbent Prime Minister fails to secure a vote of confidence after the UML withdraws its support. Prachanda will need to undergo another confidence vote in parliament after losing party support. Dahal, who assumed office after the 2022 General Elections, has already faced the floor test in parliament on a record four occasions.
Image Source: India Today
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