Crisis deepens: Nepal PM, oppn alliance stake claim to form govt

Kathmandu, May 21

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Nepal’s political crisis deepened on Friday as both embattled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the opposition parties staked a claim for the formation of a new government by submitting letters comprising signatures of lawmakers to President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Prime Minister Oli reached the President’s office Shital Niwas a couple of minutes ahead of the opposition leaders.

He submitted the letter claiming support of 121 lawmakers from his own party CPN-UML and 32 lawmakers of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N) for his reappointment pursuant to Article 76(5) of the Constitution.

Earlier, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba claimed to have the support of 149 lawmakers. He, along with the leaders of opposition parties, reached the President’s office to stake claim for the post of PM. — PTI