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Nepal’s RSP delays exit from Prachanda govt

Rashtriya Swatantra Party ministers had reached Dahal’s residence to tender their resignations but changed their decision after meeting him….reports Asian Lite News

In a change of stance, Nepal’s Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided not to immediately walk out of the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is battling a political crisis following withdrawal of support by CPN-UML.

Rashtriya Swatantra Party ministers had reached Dahal’s residence on Thursday to tender their resignations but changed their decision after meeting him.

“We went to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal carrying resignation letters. He apprised us that he will exercise his constitutional rights and face the parliament. We also asked him to take the floor test soon and our ministers didn’t tender resignation,” Santosh Pariyar, chief whip of the party, told ANI over the phone.

Pariyar along with four ministers and vice president of RSP went to Dahal’s residence to give resignations.

Dahal is leading a minority government after his major ally, CPN-UML, walked out of the government on Wednesday.

With the expiration of the 24-hour deadline given on Tuesday, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), the key ally of the Dahal-led government walked out of the government. The party had given a one-day ultimatum to Prime Minister Dahal to step down from the post which it called “a respectful exit.”

On Wednesday (July 3), eight ministers from CPN-UML on board the cabinet of Dahal formed on March 4 earlier this year, tendered resignations before the Prime Minister at his residence in Baluwatar. The ministers had reached Balkot, the residence of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and headed for Baluwatar.

“We have resigned and submitted the letter to the Prime Minister a while ago. All the 8 ministers on board the cabinet from the CPN-UML have resigned informing the Prime Minister that we no longer are part of this government and withdraw our support,”

Jwalakumari Sah, the former minister for Agriculture told ANI over phone call from PM residence, Baluwatar.

The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government. Oli would lead a new national consensus and government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, Nepal’s former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba will be the prime minister.

Dahal expressed reluctance to resign immediately. The office-bearers meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) held in Baluwatar on Tuesday had decided that the Prime Minister will not tender his resignation but instead face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days since the retraction of support.

On Wednesday, the Nepali Congress formally endorsed the agreement reached with the CPN-UML on the formation of a new coalition. A central work execution committee meeting of the party held at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha endorsed the deal reached between the top leaders of the two largest parties.

In the deal, leaders from the two largest parties have reached an understanding to lead the governments in the remaining around three-and-half-year tenure of the present parliament on a rotation basis.

“The meeting concludes that it would be appropriate for the prime minister to pave the way for the formation of a new national consensus government as, following the agreement between Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, a clear majority in the House of Representatives is in favour of forming the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli,” reads a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting also expressed commitment to implement the agreement. “The meeting expresses its determination to implement the agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML regarding leading governments on a rotation basis to protect national interests, control corruption, ensure good governance, the development, maintain political stability, amending the constitution to strengthen the federal democratic republican system and inclusiveness and to strengthen the economy.”

As per the midnight agreement between Sher Bahadur Deuba from Nepali Congress and KP Sharma Oli from CPN-UML on Tuesday, a committee is also formed to suggest amendments to the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.

In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Leaders from the Congress and the UML informed President Ram Chandra Paudel about the change in coalition.

During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister fails to win the vote of confidence after UML withdraws its support. (ANI)

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Nepal: Oli’s party gives 24-hour ultimatum

The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government…reports Asian Lite News

The Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli on Monday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to step down from the post.

The secretariat meeting held late in the evening decided to urge Prime Minister Dahal to step down. The meeting also has decided to hold the resignation of the ministers until the given time.

“The party secretariat meeting held at the party office has decided to call on the Prime Minister to step down from the post within 24 hours paving the way for the formation of a new government. The new government will be formed in line with the agreement sealed between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML as per Clause 76 (2) of the Nepal constitution. The ministers would resign from the post on Thursday morning and the party will formally withdraw the support extended to the incumbent government,” Yogesh Bhattarai, Secretary of CPN-UML told ANI.

The meeting further urged all political parties to bolster political stability by participating in the ‘national consensus’ government under chair KP Sharma Oli’s leadership.

The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government. Oli would lead a new ‘national consensus’ government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, ex-PM Sher Bahadur Deuba will be the prime minister.

Prime Minister Dahal expressed reluctance to resign immediately. The office-bearers’ meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) held in Baluwatar on Tuesday decided that the Prime Minister will not tender his resignation but instead face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days since the retraction of support.

The latest decision of the PM comes after the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have struck a midnight deal to form a new alliance. As per the agreement signed in between Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, an agreement of sharing one and half year’s tenure each has been reached in between the leaders till the next elections.

A committee is also formed to suggest amendments to the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.

In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly.

Leaders from the Congress and the UML informed President Ram Chandra Paudel about the change in coalition.

During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister fails to win the vote of confidence after UML withdraws its support. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Oli to return as Nepal PM after midnight coalition deal

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Prachanda’s Split with Coalition Partner Sparks Political Turmoil in Nepal

The chasm has been reportedly widening between the two biggest parties in the Himalayan Kingdom…reports Asian Lite News

A reshuffle of the cabinet is on the cards in Nepal on Monday with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) severing its alliance with its coalition partner Nepali Congress.

The chasm has been reportedly widening between the two biggest parties in the Himalayan Kingdom over the claim for chairmanship of the National Assembly.

“Government to change today and the new Cabinet will be formed. Swearing in of ministers will also take place today,” Surendra Pandey, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN- UML), said in a social media post on Monday.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will reportedly induct ministers from the CPN-UML, Rashtriya Swatantra Party, and Janata Samajbadi Party apart from the CPN (Maoist Centre).

The move comes after PM Dahal met CPN-UML’s K.P. Sharma Oli, the former prime minister, on Sunday to discuss a new political alliance following a breakdown in their partnerships in 2020 as well as 2023.

The Kathmandu Post reported that PM Dahal will be sending over a letter to President Ramchandra Paudel on the reshuffle, and the new ministers will likely be administered an oath of office and secrecy on Monday evening.

Emerging from an officer bearers’ meeting on Monday, Maoist Centre leader, Devendra Paudel, said the step to join hands with the UML “was taken with a plan to forge a left unity for the long term”.

Paudel was quoted as saying in the daily that a new power equation was developed as the Nepali Congress was creating hindrances for the prime minister to perform.

Becoming the Prime Minister of the South Asian nation in December 2022 with the support of CPN-UML, Dahal cut cords with the party and shook hands with the Nepali Congress within months.

Dahal’s Maoist Centre party is the third biggest group in the 275-member parliament, in which a ruling alliance or party must have 138 votes of support.

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Prachanda to visit China after UNGA session

PM Dahal informed the parliament that the “new border points and follow-up on earlier accords” will be on the agenda during his visit to Beijing….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will embark on a visit to China at the end of next month, following his visit to the United States to address the United Nations General Assembly session.

PM Dahal informed the parliament that the “new border points and follow-up on earlier accords” will be on the agenda during his visit to Beijing.

“During my scheduled visit to China, talks about opening new border points between Nepal and China have been finalized. The Nara Lagna border point in Mugu, I am aware about the issue as being informed from the local authorities as well as the locals from the district, I will attempt to make a decision over it,” Prime Minister Dahal said while replying to a question raised by lawmaker Aain Bahadur Shahi.

In response to another question raised by lawmaker Uday Shumsher JB Rana, PM Dahal said, “During the visit, enforcements of accords and understandings signed earlier will be given priority. The economic relation between the countries would be further enhanced through the operationalization of the border points between the two nations and opening of new border points are agendas of the visit”.

Meanwhile, the Nepal PM is scheduled to visit the United States in the second week of September to address the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) on September 22. After addressing the 78th session of the UNGA, he is expected to fly to China but the cabinet is yet to approve it.

During his visit to New York, the Nepal premier will also participate in various meetings including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit on September 18-19 in the capacity of being the current chair of the least developed countries. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Prachanda set for September visits to US, China

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Prachanda set for September visits to US, China

During this visit, he is scheduled to engage with senior Chinese officials….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as “Prachanda,” is scheduled for visits to the US and China in late September.

Initially, he will attend the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations in the US during the third week of September, the Print reported.

Following his UN address, Prachanda is set to journey to China, the Print reports quoted sources closely connected to the prime minister.

Subsequently, Prachanda will undertake a trip to China, Nepal’s neighboring country to the north, as a member of the Himalayan nation’s delegation for the 19th Asian Games.

During this visit, he is scheduled to engage with senior Chinese officials.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Dean Thompson met Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday. One of the motives for the meeting was to confirm whether the prime minister would attend the upcoming 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to sources at the prime minister’s private secretariat, the Kathmandu Post reported.

According to the secretariat sources, the US envoy, besides other bilateral issues, inquired about the prime minister’s plans for the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, as there might be a potential overlap with his scheduled visit to China. If the prime minister visits New York, he could meet top US leaders and officials on the sidelines.

This year’s United Nations General Assembly will take place from September 18 to 26, even as Dahal plans to head to China around the same time to attend the opening of the 19th Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou City as a guest. The Games will be held from September 23 to October 8, the Kathmandu Post reported.

Nepal’s permanent mission in New York had earlier registered the prime minister’s name on the speakers’ list and confirmed that he would address the morning session of the UNGA on September 22.

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‘India makes PM’ remark lands Prachanda in soup

Kathmandu: Newly-appointed Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' during his Swearing-in Ceremony, in Kathmandu, Nepal on Monday, December 26, 2022. (Photo:IANS/Video Grab NTV)

The Prachanda’s remarks were immediately slammed by the opposition, CPN-UML criticizing that it is Parliament that makes the Prime Minister, not India….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is being criticised for his remarks that “India makes the Prime Minister” in the Himalayan nation.

Addressing a function to launch a book written by Kiran Deep Sandhu on Sardar Pritam Singh on Monday, Prachanda, as the Prime Minister is popularly known, said that Pritampal once went to India to lobby for him to make him the premier.

After leaving India many years ago, Pritam’s familyis now settled in Kathmandu and has good connections with political leaders of Nepal, including Prachanda.

Pritam’s daughter wrote the book ‘Roads to the Valley: The Legacy of Sardar Pritam Singh in Nepal’.

While commending on the role played by Pritam Singh on enhancing Nepal-India relations, Prachanda said that the latter had lobbied in Delhi and Kathmandu to make him the Prime Minister some eight years ago.

“Pritamji, a good friend of mine, traveled to New Delhi several times and held rounds to talks with party leaders in order to make me the prime minister,” Prachanda said, adding that he also played a special and historic role in enhancing Nepal-India relations, especially people-to-people ties. 

“He (Singh) once made several efforts and hard work to make me the Prime Minister.  He went to New Delhi several times (to make me Prime Minister) and continuously held several rounds of talks with political leaders in Kathmandu for that purpose,” he added.

The remarks were immediately slammed by the opposition, CPN-UML criticizing that it is Parliament that makes the Prime Minister, not India.

In view of the statement, the UML on Wednesday and Thursday obstructed Parliament proceedings.

A meeting of the ruling parties however concluded that Prachanda made the remarks in good faith and highlighted the contribution made by Pritam so he does not need to resign as demanded by the opposition parties.

KP Sharma Oli, the UML chairman, said Prachanda should resign for his statement and not issue a clarification.

“He has undermined the role of the sovereign parliament and the people’s verdicts,” said Oli. 

Speaking in the lower house, UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant said: “The Prime Minister should resign on moral grounds. We don’t need a Prime Minister appointed by Delhi.”

“Why should the Prime Minister resign?” asked Rajendra Pandey of CPN (Unified Socialist). He said the role being played by the UML is against the spirit of Parliament. 

A House of Representatives meeting has been postponed until Friday, following the disruption by opposition parties

Not only the opposition, the ruling parties have also expressed their dissatisfaction at his statement.

“The Prime Minister’s remarks are worthy of criticism. His remarks are wrong,” Bishwa Prakash Sharma told journalists on Wednesday.

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Prachanda’s visit set to strengthen Nepal-India ties

Prachanda, who took office last December, is visiting India from May 31 to June 3 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi…reports Asian Lite News

Calling Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda’s four-day India trip a “goodwill visit”, Nepal ambassador Shankar P Sharma on Wednesday said the visit “will bring Nepal and India’s relations to a good height.”

“This is basically the goodwill visit. I think we have done so many activities in the last one year between Nepal and India. Some of them will be initiated this time and some of them will be inaugurated, some of them will be groundbreaking and some of them will be agreement. So, there are so many things on the plate. We are hoping that this visit will bring Nepal and India’s relations to a good height,” Sharma said. On being asked whether any talks on border issues will be discussed during Prachanda’s India visit, Sharma said, “You ask with the PM, I think we still have to see that.”

Kickstarting his four days India visit, Nepal PM arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday. Upon arrival, he received a warm welcome from Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi.

“PM @cmprachanda of Nepal arrives in New Delhi on his first overseas visit after assumption of office. Warmly welcomed by MoS @M_Lekhi at the airport. The visit will impart renewed momentum to the close and unique India-Nepal relationship,” the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

In addition to the official engagements, Nepal PM will also visit Ujjain and Indore as part of his visit.

Prachanda, who took office last December, is visiting India from May 31 to June 3 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Today in Delhi, the Nepal Prime Minister met with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

The meeting between Dahal and PM Modi on Thursday would provide an opportunity to address the full range of the relationship between India and Nepal.

A Ministry of External Affairs release said earlier that the visit continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries in furtherance of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Prachanda embarks on 4-day visit to India

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Prachanda to visit Ujjain, Indore as part of India trip

The Nepal Prime Minister, who assumed office in December last year, is set to begin his India visit from May 31-June 3 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, reports Asian Lite News

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka ‘Prachanda’ is all set to visit Ujjain and Indore in Madhya Pradesh as a part of his 4-day official visit to India next week, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Dahal, who assumed office in December last year, is set to begin his India visit from May 31-June 3 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. During the visit, the Prime Minister of Nepal will call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

In addition to the official engagements, the Prime Minister of Nepal will also be visiting Ujjain and Indore as part of his visit, according to the official release of MEA.

A high-level delegation will accompany Nepal PM Dahal during his visit.

PM Dahal will also hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Modi to discuss the diverse areas of the bilateral partnership between India and Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Photo: PIB)

Other Indian dignitaries will call on the Prime Minister of Nepal as well.

The visit continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal in furtherance of the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

The bilateral relations between the two countries have significantly strengthened in the last few years in all areas of cooperation.

This visit demonstrates the importance that both sides place on accelerating the bilateral partnership between the two nations. (ANI)

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Nepal PM Prachanda expands Cabinet

The newly-appointed ministers took an oath of office and secrecy from President Ram Chandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Friday expanded the cabinet for the seventh time in three months, inducting ministers from five new parties including the Nepali Congress.

The newly-appointed ministers took an oath of office and secrecy from President Ram Chandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office.

Nepali Congress (NC), the major partner in the ruling coalition, has got eight ministries. However, it has sent only four names since the Shekhar Koirala-led faction demanded at least three ministers.

Likewise, the Maoist Center has five ministers, Janata Samajwadi Party and Unified Samajwadi two ministries each, and Nagarik Unmukti Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal Samajwadi Party, and Aam Janata Party one minister each.

NC’s Purna Bahadur Khadka has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence; Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat as Finance Minister; Ramesh Rijal as Minister of Industries; and Sita Gurung as the Minister of Urban Development.

Likewise, Shakti Basnet of the CPN (Maoist Centre) has been appointed the minister for energy, water resource and irrigation. The prime minister assigned the home portfolio to Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Shrestha was looking after the ministry of physical infrastructure and transport.

CPN (Unified Socialist) vice chairman Beduram Bhusal has been appointed the minister for agriculture and livestock development and the party’s deputy general secretary Prakash Jwala the minister for physical infrastructure and transport.

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Stage being set for Prachanda’s India visit

Kathmandu: Newly-appointed Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' during his Swearing-in Ceremony, in Kathmandu, Nepal on Monday, December 26, 2022. (Photo:IANS/Video Grab NTV)

Prachanda could visit India between the second and third week of April, with exact travel dates subject to an official announcement….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal government is sending an advance team to New Delhi to lay the ground for Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s upcoming visit to India.

The team will jointly work with the Indian officials to set bilateral talks agenda even though the dates of Dahal’s trip are yet to be finalised, according to a report published in Kathmandu Post on Sunday.

Report stated that in the absence of a designated foreign minister, Prime Minister Dahal aka Prachanda has instructed Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to dispatch an advance team.

Due to the delays in Cabinet expansion, the prime minister himself is in charge of the foreign ministry, besides 15 other ministries.

Prachanda could visit India between the second and third week of April, with exact travel dates subject to an official announcement.

Prime Minister’s chief personal secretary Ramesh Malla told the Post that Dahal has already instructed the chief secretary to form an advance team of representatives from various ministries who will discuss the visit agenda to make it fruitful.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 12, 2018. (Photo IANS PIB)

This will be the Prachanda’s “return” visit, following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hop over to Lumbini in May last year.

Sources told the Post that a joint-secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, probably heading the South Asia division, could lead the team involving joint-secretaries from various other ministers. The team will have representatives from ministries including energy and water resources; physical infrastructure and transport; industry, commerce and supplies; and culture, tourism and civil aviation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with the officials, mostly from the ministries that have important agendas to be taken up during the visit, Malla told the Post, who will lead the team is still unsure, but officials at the prime minister’s office and the foreign ministry will take the lead.

The date of the prime minister’s India visit will be fixed only after he gives his Cabinet full shape. Prime Minister Dahal has said that his first foreign visit will be to India.

After the prime minister expressed his intent to visit India first, New Delhi had sent Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kawtra to Kathmandu last month.

After winning a vote of confidence on March 20, Dahal reiterated that he would focus on the planned India tour. “I will go to India before April 20,” Dahal said.

“Though we are yet to finalise the date of visit, it could happen in the first or second week of April,” he told reporters at Parliament.

From China, which he visited first for the Beijing Olympics during his first stint as prime minister, Dahal has already received an invitation to the “Boao Forum for Asia” annual conference.

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