Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday urged Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar to be mindful of regulations and parliamentary practices before fixing the House businesses.

Speaker Magar’s move of listing the discussion on a no-trust motion ahead of the three subsidiary bills related to the budget has not gone down well with PM Oli. During Tuesday’s meeting, PM Oli also expressed his dissatisfaction at Speaker Magar’s decision, saying that her move was biased and that “it showed as though she was working at the behest of her party”. Magar was elected the House Speaker from the CPN (Maoist Centre), a party which has filed the no-trust motion against PM Oli.

“The PM asked the Speaker to keep the decorum of her position in mind and to play a balanced role,” said PM Oli’s Press Adviser Pramaod Dahal. “He also urged the Speaker to table the three subsidiary bills for voting before introducing the no-trust motion, as the bills were incorporated as the House business first.”

Speaker Magar, in response, informed PM Oli that she was ready to take any of the issues first if parties could reach consensus. “The Speaker informed the PM that she was not taking sides as she was ready to move ahead based on consensus among parties,” said Speaker Magar’s press adviser Babin Sharma. “Or else, discussion on the no-trust motion will be held first.” (PR)