Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said he is eager to hand over power to a new leader but added that he would not resign as demanded by the CPN-UML, whose Chairman KP Oli appears set to succeed him. Deuba has based his argument on the need to elect the National Assembly first to give full shape to the Federal Parliament for power transfer. 

An ordinance on the election of the National Assembly is pending at the Office of the President. 

PM Deuba during his meeting with President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday requested the Head of State to authenticate the ordinance to ensure laws required to elect the National Assembly so as to expedite the process of smooth transfer of power, Govinda Pariyar, Deuba’s press adviser, told the Post.  |

The President is seeking political consensus among political parties, as there are some differences between the Nepali Congress and the UML over some provisions of electing the National Assembly. 

The Election Commission has also said it is waiting for the laws for election of the National Assembly so as to announce the candidates elected for the House of Representatives under the proportional representation  (PR) category. 

Ensuring 33 percent women in the Federal Parliament as per the constitution requires that National Assembly election is completed before proportional representation seats can be announced, Election Commissioner Ila Sharma tweeted on Tuesday. The PR vote count is likely to be completed by Friday evening. 

Amid this, the UML, which is set to emerge as the single largest party, has demanded that PM Deuba resign to pave the way for formation of the new government. 

But PM Deuba is learnt to have told leaders that he “will transfer power only after the election of the National Assembly”, hinting that there is no need for him to resign.

The incumbent government has completed 98 percent of its responsibility after the successful conduct of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections, said a close aide to PM Deuba, adding that now the only task that is remaining is giving full shape to the Federal Parliament, which will conclude after the election of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly will have 59 members, 56 elected from seven provinces (eight members each from seven provinces) and three nominated by the President.

The constitutional provision also requires Deuba “to hand over power”, so he will not put in his papers, said the PM’s aide, adding that the new leader once elected the prime minister will automatically substitute Deuba.

Elections a milestone: Prez

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has described the recently held House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections as a milestone towards implementation of the new constitution.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday, President Bhandari also thanked the government, the Election Commission, political parties, civil servants, the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, the National Investigation Department and all the voters for making the elections a success, according to Kul Prasad Chudal, spokesperson for the Office of the President. 

President Bhandari expressed hope that the elections would help ensure political stability, he said. To realise the socio-economic transformation, all political parties should work together, Chudal quoted President Bhandari as saying. (PR)