HELLO NEPAL

The Kathmandu Days 31 July 2016 DIFFICULT DAYS The time has come now for the new coalition government, supposedly to be led by Prachanda, to be sincere and serious in addressing the political and constitutional issues raised by the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, a larger alliance comprising the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) and Janajati forces. Both the CPN MC and the NC’s senior leaders should waste no time and should immediately sit with the disgruntled forces to bring them on board and settle the problems once for all. The SLMM has clearly put forward its position about joining the new government (“Morcha puts caveat to join govt” 27 July, Page 1). The Oli led government had missed this opportunity due to prime minister’s anarchical working style. He continued demonstrating empathy towards the agitating forces and showing his intention of tiring them out. If I am not wrong, this was one of the reasons among others for his government’s ouster. His domineer...

The Himalayan Times 27 July 2016 Another coalition The clock has started ticking for the three major parties, after the President gave them one week’s time, to choose a new Prime Minister (PM) on the basis of political consensus “Prez gives parties one week to find consensus PM” (THT, 26 July, Page 1). There was some hue and cry situation in the parliament after PM Oli decided first to face the no confidence motion registered by CPN-Maoist Centre and NC. However, he changed his mind later and tendered his resignation. Time has come for the Big Three to show their political acumen keeping the nation and its people at the centre stage. So far, they have not shown any political sincerity towards addressing the national interest just because of their egoistic and self-centred politics. And, judging by their past political attitudes and existing political polarizations among them, the formation of a consensus government seems to be a distant possibility. The n...

The Himalayan Times 20 July 2016 Ambiguity The so called big III have again started dirty power politics at a time when they were supposed to be serious about the implementation of the new constitution. Blaming each other for not following the spirit of the new charter has openly surfaced in the current political situation. CPN (MC) was not happy with the way the Oli led government was running the country and used to threaten to leave the coalition government. Finally, it decided to do so after NC’c assurance to support it to form the new coalition government under its leadership. So far, Oli does not seem arithmetically able to garner a majority in the parliament, however, has started playing dubious roles. He has been claiming that there is no clear constitutional provision for forming a new government which has been the crux of the constitutional problem inviting political confrontation between the ruling and the opposition parties interpreting article 298 of ...