Miscellaneous
PM urges NC to join govt
UML asks the largest party to play a constructive role in implementing the new charter by joining the govtPrime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged the main opposition Nepali Congress to join the government to transform it into a consensus Cabinet for “effective implementation of the constitution”.
In a political report presented to the CPN-UML Central Committee, PM Oli, who is the head of the second largest party, said the NC’s participation was desirable in his government for effective implementation of the new constitution in accordance with the past agreements.
“We want the NC to play a constructive role in implementing the new constitution by participating in the government,” reads the report presented to the party meeting that began on Saturday.
Recalling the 16-point agreement signed among the major political parties before the promulgation of the new constitution, Oli stressed the need for all key political forces’ involvement in the government.
The proposal comes amid growing criticism of the government’s poor performance and the delay in post-earthquake reconstruction.
In the report, Oli also criticised the largest party for shying from past agreements and not helping implement the new constitution. Stating that the NC had blundered by fielding its candidate in the prime ministerial election, Oli rued the opposition party’s non-cooperation in endorsing the parliamentary regulation and appointing a new chief justice. “We could have achived so many things if the House regulation had been endorsed. Just yesterday, the NC did not allow the Constitutional Council to appoint the chief justice,” Oli told the meeting. “That’s why we are seeking the NC’s meaningful support.”
As the parties continue to wrangle over the parliamentary regulations, the government has been unable to appoint members to the constitutional bodies and justices to the Supreme Court.
On the Tarai agitation, Oli vowed to address the genuine demands raised by the protesting Madhesi parties. Stating that the government had addressed some of the concerns of the regional parties, Oli said the government was in the process of resolving the issues related to the state boundaries.
“Our party is firm on resolving the issue of demarcation within three months after fixing the ToR [terms of reference] of the political committee and its representatives,” the UML chairman’s report reads.
The government has already ensured inclusive and proportional representation of women, Dalits, Madhesis and other marginalised communities in the state mechanism besides agreeing to delineate electoral constituencies with priority for population.
At the meeting, Oli tabled a proposal to give complete shape to the party’s central departments, develop the party’s provincial structures and to chart the party’s future course. Nearly two years after his election as the UML chief, the party’s central departments are yet to be fully formed. As part of implementing the new constitution, Oli has proposed mobilising the party for local polls.