Binod Ghimre
The Kathmandu Post
Publication Date : 03-10-2015
Nearly two weeks after the promulgation of the new constitution, President Ram Baran Yadav on Friday asked the political parties to form a consensus government within a week.
His move follows the Cabinet recommendation to initiate the process for new government formation. Immediately after his address to parliament, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had reached Sheetal Niwas to recommend President
Yadav to make a call for installing a new Cabinet. According to Article 298 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, the PM’s election is held within seven days of commencement of the parliamentary session based on consensus and the
new council of minister is formed under him/her. If there is no consensus, the process for majority government will begin as per Clause 3 of the Article. The constitution endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the Constituent Assembly was promulgated on September 20.
In his much-awaited address to the first meeting of parliament after dissolution of the CA, PM Koirala said he would stick to his pledge to step down from his office and make way for a new PM according to his public commitment. “I took the responsibility to contribute to the promulgation of new constitution from the CA,” Koirala said in his address. “As per my public commitment, I am recommending that the President call for the election of the new prime minister.” He, however, did not announce his resignation as many had expected.
Much of his 20-minute speech was devoted to highlighting the features of the new constitution and appealing to the disgruntled parties to resolve the issues through dialogue. Hailing the new constitution as exemplary in terms of its content and process of adoption, he said the charter had addressed a majority of concerns of the Madhesi parties.
He also said the major parties had acknowledged the demands of the regional parties for proportional inclusive representation in all the state agencies and delimitation of electoral constituencies based on the population and that they were ready to address them.
“Friends from some political parties remained out of the constitution drafting process in the final phase despite actively participating in it for a long time. I would like to appeal to them to resolve the dispute through talks,” said the PM.
He asked all to come together to lead the country to a modern, scientific era. “The identity of a democratic federal republic will help us strengthen our relations with our neighbours India, China and others,” Koirala said. “I also laud
their support to the new constitution drafted by the historic CA.” He also thanked all parties, government officials, civil society and media for their support to new statute promulgation.
After the House session, leaders from various parties claimed that the new government would be formed in consensus within a week with the historic responsibility of implementing the new national charter. Taking to media, former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal said the new government would be led by UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli. He added that the inter-party discussion on government formation would start on Saturday.
Forest Minister Mahesh Acharya, who is a close aide to the PM, said Koirala had cleared the way for a new government and the major parties will decide its leadership after discussion. The House will meet on Sunday.
Koirala keeps room for give and take
In not announcing his resignation in parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has kept some room for some political give and take.
In order to address the grievances of the Madhesi constituencies, the government is going to table two amendment bills in parliament, most possibly on Sunday.
This could be a key negotiating point for a power-sharing deal between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.
But the divergence of opinion between the two largest parties over the tabling the amendment bills, the issue of PM’s resignation and the formation of consensus government is likely to complicate a deal.
Despite strong opposition from the UML, the Cabinet on Friday instructed the Ministry of Law and Justice to prepare two separate amendment bills related to ensuring the inclusive and proportional representation of the marginalised communities in the state organs and delineation of the 165 electoral constituencies on the basis of population for tabling in the House on Sunday.
The move is expected to address the demands of the agitating Madhes-based parties who are unhappy also about the demarcation of provinces.
Ahead of his address in parliament, PM Koirala proposed the Cabinet tabling two amendment bills in House on Friday but UML ministers rejected it outright.
They argued that the constitution was yet to be implemented so amendment would be almost impossible without broad-based political consensus.
Earlier, there was an understanding among top leaders of the NC, UML and the UCPN (Maoist) to table the amendment bills with consent from the Madhesi parties. The PM made a public commitment in the dissolved Constituent Assembly that the government would table the bills to address the grievances.
The UML believes that the proposed bills may be a condition for Koirala to step down as they need a two-thirds majority in the House for endorsement.
If the PM does not resign, the UML’s overt strategy is to block the bills. Similarly, appointments to other key posts such as President, Vice President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker are occasions for more negotiations among parties.
The NC wants to see a larger power-sharing deal only after the PM election enters the majority phase.
According to the NC, approving the bills is a moral and political obligation of the top leaders. Congress leaders say there is no constitutional obligation for the PM to resign and that it is difficult to elect the new PM in consensus within the next seven days. “Consensus means all the parties in parliament should agree to one PM candidate, which is an impossible scenario for now. After failing to elect the PM through consensus, we have to go for a majority government by bringing on board as many as political parties as possible,” said Nidhi.
“It is clear that Koirala wants to take credit for addressing the grievances of the agitating Madhesi parties quitting,” said UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is a member of the three-member team tasked with holding talks with the Madhes-based parties.
Sadbhawana Party Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna said they would study proposals from the government before making their position public. “We don’t care if it comes from Koirala or Oli. We are concerned whether the bills meet our genuine demands. We are awaiting the government’s response,” said Karna.