Nepal PM won't step down, will face Parliament: Official

Kathmandu, February 24

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will not resign immediately and implement the Supreme Court’s verdict against him by facing Parliament that is due to convene within two weeks, an official representing the embattled premier said on Wednesday.

In a landmark ruling, a five-member constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher on Tuesday annulled the Oli government’s “unconstitutional” decision to dissolve the 275-member lower house of Parliament. The court also ordered the government to summon the House session within the next 13 days.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli amid a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Oli’s Press Adviser Surya Thapa said the Prime Minister, who turned 69 this week, intends to implement the verdict of the apex court after facing Parliament that is due to convene within two weeks.

“The Supreme Court’s verdict is controversial, however, it should be accepted and implemented. Its effects will be seen in the future as the decision has not provided any solution to the political problems,” Thapa said. He claimed that the apex court’s verdict will further fuel instability and pave the way for power-play. “The Prime Minister will face the House of Representatives to implement the verdict but will not tender his resignation as of now,” Thapa was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Times.A large section of the Nepalese media welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict that reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives. They hailed the decision, saying it has upheld democratic values and safeguarded the Constitution. — PTI

Oli should resign

Vice-president of the CPN Bamdev Gautam, who has so far maintained a balance between Oli and his rivals Prachanda and Madhav Kumar Nepal, has urged the PM to step down. “As the court verdict has proven that the PM’s step was unconstitutional, he must resign immediately,” he said.

‘Against his autocratic style’

• Members of the anti-Oli faction said they rejected his autocratic style of functioning and the latest court order proved his inability to govern.
• “If Oli does not resign then parliament will take a decision on his fate,” Shrestha said, adding that the tourism-dependent economy needed a stable government. Reuters