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Nepal’s next parliamentary elections will be held on March 5, President Ramchandra Paudel’s office has announced, following a week of violent protests in Kathmandu that led to the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and appointment of former chief justice and anti-corruption activist Sushila Karki as interim PM.
President Paudel made the announcement while dissolving the House of Representatives on the recommendation of the interim PM on Friday. Nepal’s major political parties and apex lawyers’ body have strongly criticised the President’s decision to dissolve Parliament as “unconstitutional”, “arbitrary” and a serious blow to democracy.
Chief whips of eight political parties, including Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and Maoist Centre, on Saturday issued a joint statement opposing the dissolution of the House.
The Central Executive Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress held on Saturday concluded that the dissolution of the Parliament has “jeopardised the democratic achievements” of the country, MyRepublica news portal reported.
“This move to dissolve parliament is against the spirit of our Constitution and the interpretation of the Supreme Court. It is absolutely unconstitutional,” the NC said in a statement.
CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel described the move as “ironically concerning”.
“In the past, the majority of governments’ attempts to dissolve Parliament were challenged as unconstitutional. Ironically, those same voices are now supporting dissolution. We must remain vigilant,” the CPN-UML leader said.
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President Poudel appealed to the parties to fall in line and get involved in the process of holding elections in six months.
Sushila Karki, 73, who was sworn-in as Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister on Friday, will form a small Cabinet on Sunday as offices are closed on Saturday. Karki will hold some two dozen ministries, including Home, Foreign Affairs and Defence.
PM Karki received congratulatory messages from leaders of other nations, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 14th Dalai Lama, wishing her success in fulfilling the aspiration of the people of Nepal.
As the Prime Minister’s Office in Singhdurbar Secretariat was set on fire during the two-day agitation, the newly constructed building for the Home Ministry within the Singhdurbar complex is being prepared for the Prime Minister’s Office, according to government sources.
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PM Karki on Saturday visited the Civil Hospital in Baneshwor area of Kathmandu where dozens of people injured during the agitation are undergoing treatment. The government indicated that with the situation returning to near normal in the country, and the curfew not extended, offices and other official activities may resume from Sunday. – With PTI inputs
