Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will face the floor test rather than resigning, as he is riding on what he calls “constitutional complexities” to buy time.
Prime Minister Oli, who faces the challenge of proving majority in parliament following a no-confidence motion brought against him, said at a parliamentary party meeting of the CPN-UML that constitutional complexities will prevent the formation of a new government.
Citing Article 298 of the constitution, which reads: “The council of ministers existing at the time of commencement of this constitution shall remain until the transformed legislature-parliament constitutes a new council of ministers” Oli insisted on facing the House
instead of resigning.
At the meeting, the prime minister also briefed his parliamentarians about the latest political situation after the Maoist Centre withdrew its support from the coalition government. He told the lawmakers that “as per Article 298 of the constitution, (the government) will remain until next parliamentary elections take place”.
On Thursday, Oli hit out at India, saying he cannot compromise on national security in the name of maintaining cordial relations with neighbours.
“Maintaining good relation with neighbouring countries is an important aspect of national security. But we cannot jeopardise nationality for its sake,” said Oli, who is
known for his anti-India stance.
Speaking at the National Security Seminar in Kathmandu, Oli said, “Neither we think against anyone nor we have spoken against one. We won’t let this country be used against others.”
Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is in line to become the next prime minister, were invited to the seminar but both leaders opted to boycott it.
Hinting at the absence of the two leaders, Oli said the issue of national security was not related to any particular person or party but the country as a whole.
“Competition should be for various other issues,” he said, adding, “But not on national
security.”
Taking aim at the protests in Terai, Oli said the new constitution had not discriminated against anyone. He said the new constitution could only be amended as there was no provision for rewriting mentioned in it.
Oli said the government was ready to redraw the federal boundaries as per the demand of Terai-based political parties. “But such drawings should be a justifiable one,” he said.
His comments come as Dahal looks set to make a comeback as the 39th prime minister of Nepal with the Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties pledging to back him.
The Maoist Centre, which filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Oli in parliament on Wednesday with the backing of the NC and CPN (Samyukta), appears confident about proving a majority in parliament.
On Wednesday, Nepal Deputy Prime Minister Chitra Bahadur accused New Delhi of trying to topple Prime Minister Oli.
In an interview to a local online news portal, Bahadur said: “In fact, India was upset after we reached a transit deal with China. And they (Indians) found Prachanda (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) as a dummy character to fulfil its interest in Nepal.”