Madhav Nepal elected parliamentary party leader of CPN (US)
KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Madhav Kumar Nepal, chairperson of CPN (Unified Socialist), has been elected the parliamentary party leader.
A parliamentary party meeting held on Monday elected Nepal the parliamentary party leader unanimously.
Likewise,
KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Madhav Kumar Nepal, chairperson of CPN (Unified Socialist), has been elected the parliamentary party leader.
A parliamentary party meeting held on Monday elected Nepal the parliamentary party leader unanimously.
Likewise, Prakash Jwala has been elected the chief whip of the party.
The CPN (Unified Socialist) won 10 seats in the House of Representatives (HoR) in the general election held earlier on November 20 under the direct election system.
KATHMANDU, April 13: Nepal is all set to bid farewell to the year 2078 BS and welcome a fresh new year 2079 BS.
Amid the political turmoil, COVID-19 pandemic, some of the worst natural disasters and economic crisis, the year 2078 BS is coming to an end on Wednesday.
Here are some of the major happenings of the year in review:
Oli loses trust vote in parliament
The then Prime Minister KP Oli failed to win a confidence motion in the House of Representatives on May 10.
Prime Minister Oli garnered only 93 votes, which fell short of 43 votes to secure the required majority of at least 146 votes.
Similarly, a total of 124 lawmakers voted against him while 15 other lawmakers opted to remain neutral during Monday’s voting process. As many as 27 lawmakers were absent.
KP Oli reappointed as Prime Minister three days after he lost trust motion
Three days after losing the trust motion from the House of Representatives (HoR), parliamentary party leader of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli was appointed as Prime Minister on May 13.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed Oli as the prime minister as opposition parties could not stake their claim for the formation of a new government within the stipulated time frame.
Oli was appointed to the post in his capacity as the parliamentary party leader of the largest party in parliament as per Article 76 (3) of the Constitution of Nepal.
Nepal parliament dissolved again
President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House of Representatives (HoR) at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on May 22.
President Bhandari dissolved the lower house of parliament as per Article 76 (7) and announced fresh parliamentary elections for November 12 and 19 upon the recommendation of the Cabinet.
SC restores House of Representatives
The Supreme Court reinstated the House of Representatives (HoR) on July 12.
A constitutional bench headed by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana issued an order that the lower House of parliament be restored.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari, on May 22, dissolved the House at the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led Cabinet.
As many as 26 writ petitions, including one by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, were filed against the dissolution.
NC Prez Deuba appointed PM
President of Nepali Congress (NC) Sher Bahadur Deuba appointed the prime minister on July 13.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed Deuba the prime minister as per Article 76 (5) as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Devastating flood and landslide hit Melamchi
Melamchi Municipality and Helambu Rural Municipality witnessed devastating floods and landslides on June 15.
Dozens were killed, hundreds went missing and thousands were displaced.
Houses, bridges and roads were swept away.
UML splits, Madhav Nepal-led UML (Samajbadi) formed
CPN-UML split into two as the party's senior leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal formed a new party called CPN-UML (Samajbadi) on August 18.
Nepal witnessed ‘Government Shutdown’
Nepal in September faced a situation of government shutdown , probably for the first time in history, being unable to spend money from the government treasury.
The ‘Budget Holiday’ ended after the President Bidya Devi Bhandari authenticated the Budget ( Appropriation Bill, 2078).
Political parties hold their general conventions
The 14th General Convention of Nepali Congress was held in the federal capital on December 10. The Tenth General Convention of the main opposition CPN-UML was held on the banks of the Narayani River in Chitwan on November 26. The CPN (Maoist Center) held a three-day long national conference in Kathmandu beginning on December 26. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) held its National Congress on December 1.
Sher Bahadur Deuba was elected President of NC, KP Oli was elected Chairman of CPN-UML and Pushpa Kamal Dahal was elected Chairman of CPN-Maoist Center.
Likewise, Rajendra Lindgen defeated Kamal Thapa and was elected Chairman of RPP.
Impeachment motion registered against CJ Rana
An impeachment motion was registered against the Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana on February 13.
As many as 98 lawmakers including lawmakers of ruling Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) registered the motion at the parliament secretariat.
CJ Rana has been accused of defaming the Judiciary and exercising the position for his personal interests.
Govt ratifies MCC Compact with ‘interpretive declaration’
The government of Nepal ratified the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)-Nepal Compact on February 27.
A meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) ratified the compact with a one-third majority.
Article 279 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal states that if any treaty or agreement is of an ordinary nature, which does not affect the nation extensively, seriously or in the long term, the ratification of, accession to, acceptance of, or approval of, such treaty or agreement may be made by a simple majority of the members present in a meeting of the House of Representatives.
With the ‘interpretative declaration,’ the ruling alliance reached an agreement to ratify the compact.
Governor Adhikari suspended
A Cabinet meeting held on April 8 took a decision to form a probe committee to investigate Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari on the charge of leaking sensitive information about the government’s decisions and not fulfilling his responsibilities effectively.
With this, Adhikari has been automatically suspended from the post.
KATHMANDU: Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that there is no possibility of merger between CPN (US) and CPN (Maoist Center).
Assuming the office as the parliamentary party leader of the CPN (US) at the PP office, Singha Durbar on Thursday, Chairman Nepal claimed that his party with revolutionary thoughts will not merge itself into the Maoist Center.
“This party has been formed after a revolt against the autocracy of KP Oli,” he said.
On a different note, Nepal said that the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led Cabinet is less likely to be expanded before September 8.
KATHMANDU: Opposition parties including the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) in Bagmati Province are busy doing homework to topple the Astha Laxmi Shakya government in just less than two weeks she took the helm of the provincial government.
The leaders of the ruling alliance said they are yet to finalize the roadmap for the new government after the split in the ruling CPN-UML finalizes formally.
The ruling UML is most likely to split and lose the majority in the Bagmati Province Assembly after UML’s erstwhile senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal formed a new party named CPN (US).
The opposition alliance is yet to decide who will lead the new government. However, CPN (US) leader Rajendra Pandey is much likely to replace Chief Minister Shakya.
Former CM Dormani Poudel, in an apparent bid to prevent the party-split, stepped down as the UML parliamentary party leader and chief minister on August 18. He also proposed Shakya as the PP leader and got her elected unanimously.
Shakya, who was said to be close to UML's then senior leader Madhav Nepal, was proposed as the chief minister of the province and Province Chief Bishnu Prasai appointed her as the executive head of the province as per Article 168 of the Constitution of Nepal on the same day.
She is the first female chief minister as well. She inducted two ministers to her Cabinet. However, one of the ministers --- Social Development Minister Krishna Prasad Khanal--- announced his affiliation to the CPN (US). Rajendra Pandey had already opened up as the active leader of the new party. With this, CM Shakya apparently lost the majority in the 109-strong provincial assembly.
To avoid the crisis for a time being, she recommended the governor of the province for prorogation of the ongoing session of Bagmati Province Assembly. However, the crisis is still prevailing.
Mathematics in Bagmati Province Assembly
Of the 109 members of the provincial assembly, the ruling UML has 56 members including speaker. Support of 55 members is enough to form the government.
Though two members have so far joined CPN (US), leader Pandey said that other members will also soon join the new party as the Election Commission (EC) has extended a deadline until September 7 to join the new party.
Pandey claimed that most of the 23 members who supported Madhav Nepal in the early days will join the CPN (US).
Click here to read the news in detail.
KATHMANDU, Aug 18: Hours after Dormani Poudel stepped down from his post on Wednesday, Ashta Laxmi Shakya was sworn in as the chief minister of Bagmati Province.
Province Chief Bishnu Prasai administered an oath of office and secrecy to CM Shakya on Wednesday evening.
Shakya replaced her predecessor Poudel, who also belongs to the same party --- CPN-UML.
Reshuffle of CM in the province took place amid the formal split in the CPN-UML. A dissident leader of the party, Madhav Kumar Nepal officially registered CPN-UML (Samajbadi) at the Election COmmission on Wednesday.
Following Poudel’s resignation from the UML’s parliamentary party leader in the province, Shakya, who was said to be close to Madhav Nepal, was elected the PP leader unanimously.
KATHMANDU, May 5: The Supreme Court on March 7 invalidated the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party (NCP), which was formed after a merger between the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center). Responding to the writ petition registered by Rishi Kattel, the apex court also revived the two parties, scrapping their merger deal.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli should have taken a vote of confidence of the House of Representatives immediately after March 7 after the erstwhile ruling NCP was no longer in existence. However, he did not consider seeking the confidence of the lower house of parliament.
However, President Bidya Devi Bhandari summed the special session of parliament for May 7 at the recommendation of the Council of Minister. The President's office stated that the House session was called as per the Article 93 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal as 'the prime minister considers it necessary to show that he has confidence from the House of Representatives as per the Article 100 (1).’
PM Oli is trying to garner a majority of votes in favor of him and win the trust of the originally 275-member HoR at a time when the country is ravaging with the deadlier second wave of the coronavirus disease and the budget session of the House is to be summoned at the earlier to discuss on the government’s policies and programs and annual budget and endorse before May 19 (Jestha 15), as mentioned in the Constitution of Nepal.
Oli’s announcement to seek parliament’s confidence has sent ripples in domestic politics. Why does Prime Minister Oli want to take a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives at this time? Is he trying to keep the government intact by getting a majority in his favor or is he looking for an excuse to dissolve parliament again and go to the snap polls? This is a psychological question, not based on mathematics. What we are discussing here is basically related to mathematics.
1. Securing a majority by splitting the JSP
Ruling CPN-UML has a total of 121 lawmakers, which means 15 votes short of securing majority votes and winning the vote of confidence. In this situation, Oli will try to convince a faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) close to Mahantha Thakur and Rajendra Mahato and save his position.
2. Re-appointment within hours of losing parliament's confidence
If Prime Minister Oli does not receive a vote of confidence, he will automatically be relieved of his position. However, as in the case of Lumbini, it is clear that Oli will be re-appointed as prime minister within a few hours as the parliamentary leader of the largest party in parliament.
The UML may hold a meeting of the parliamentary party and present its claim to the president in forming a new government under its leadership as per Article 76 (3) of the constitution. This has been ‘gloriously’ rehearsed in Lumbini Province.
3. Sacking or convincing lawmakers close to the party’s Nepal faction
What will happen if KP Oli takes action and suspends 30 MPs close to the Madhav Nepal-faction in the party before May 12? Or, if the MPs of Madhav's party resign en masse, what will be the result of the Oli-mathematics that day? The possibility of such plot-twist cannot be ruled out.
4.Dissolution of parliament and midterm elections!
If Prime Minister Oli does not receive a vote of confidence, will however get a chance to become prime minister again as the leader of the largest party. He will have another one month to form new equations and garner a majority of votes by a hook or crook.
play a game of splitting the other parties or reducing the pressure, buying and gaining a majority in his favor by June 27 or a majority in the opposition.
After losing the trust of the parliament again on June 10, he can’t recommend to the president for the dissolution of parliament as the Article 76 (3) don't allow him to go for that move. Eventually, even if Prime Minister Oli wins or loses on May 10, the government under his leadership seems afloat.
The Supreme Court's February 23 precedent and the provisions in the constitution do not allow Oli to dissolve parliament all of a sudden. However, analysts fear that he could still dissolve parliament and call a midterm election without fulfilling the process mentioned in the Article 76
Click here to read the full version of this news story.
What is there in Article 76?
76. Constitution of Council of Ministers:
1) The President shall appoint the leader
of a parliamentary party that commands majority in the House of Representatives as the Prime Minister, and the Council of Ministers shall be constituted under his or her chairpersonship.
(2) In cases where no party has a clear majority in the House of Representatives under clause (1), the President shall appoint as the Prime Minister a member of the House of Representatives who can command majority with the support of two or more parties representing the House of Representatives.
(3) In cases where Prime Minister cannot be appointed under clause (2) no later than thirty days after the date of declaration of the final results of election to the House of Representatives or the Prime Minister so appointed fails to secure a vote of confidence under clause (4), the President shall appoint as the Prime Minister the parliamentary party leader of the party which has the highest number of members in the House of Representatives.
(4) The Prime Minister appointed under clause (2) or (3) shall obtain a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives no later than thirty days after the date of such appointment.
(5) In cases where the Prime Minister appointed under clause (3) fails to obtain a vote of confidence under clause (4) and any member under clause (2) presents a ground on which he or she can obtain a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, the President shall appoint such members as the Prime Minister.
(6) The Prime Minister appointed under clause (5) must obtain a vote of confidence under clause (4).
(7) In cases where the Prime Minister appointed under clause (5) fails to obtain a vote of confidence or the Prime Minister cannot be appointed, the President shall, on recommendation of the Prime Minister, dissolve the House of Representatives and appoint a date of election so that the election to another The House of Representatives is completed within six months.
(8) Procedures on the appointment of the Prime Minister under this Article must be completed no later than thirty five days after the date of declaration of the final results of election to the House of Representatives held under this Constitution or the date on which the office of the Prime Minister hasfallen vacant.
Source: Nepal Law Commission
