Kathmandu, July 18

Top leaders of the three major political parties – Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal – today discussed the constitutional provision regarding formation of the next government.

However, Oli differs with Deuba and Dahal on whether the constitutional provision is ambiguous or clear about it.

An hour-long meeting called by Oli at his residence ended without any conclusion, as both the sides reiterated their argument about the process to form the new government.

Oli said the constitutional provision was not clear about it.

He urged them to form a common stance on clearing constitutional ambiguity regarding formation of the new government through consensus.

Deuba and Dahal, however, said Article 298 of the constitution and the parliament regulations clearly mentioned about formation of the new government.

They urged Oli to honour the parliamentary system by tendering resignation or by letting the Parliament take up the vote of no-confidence motion smoothly without obstructing the process.

“Both the constitution and the parliamentary regulations are clear about formation of the new government. In a parliamentary democracy, it is better to tender resignation when the government is reduced to minority.

If you want to face vote of no-confidence, you can. But, you should not obstruct it,” Deuba told the PM, according to NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi.

In response, PM Oli said he would not resign when the no-confidence motion had already been registered in the Parliament against him. He would rather face it, according to the PM’s Press Adviser Pramod Dahal.

“We have constitutional supremacy and not the supremacy of the Parliament. I will face the no- confidence motion and other processes in accordance with the constitution,” Oli told Deuba and Dahal, according to his press adviser.

Oli cautioned Deuba and Dahal about the possible complexities the no-confidence motion might create.

Oli also urged Deuba and Dahal to form a common stance on simplifying constitutional and political complexities and move towards the implementation of the new constitution together. “If we fail to find a common ground, it will lead the nation towards conflict,” Oli said.

Dahal said, “We urged the PM to step down and clear the way to form a new government.”

Validity of budget-related bills has ended: Deuba

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress stated on Monday that there was no logic behind producing three dependent bills related to fiscal budget 2015/016 in the Parliament at a time when the validity of the bills ended after the new fiscal year began on July 16.

“The three bills were to be passed by July 15 to implement the new taxation system from July 16.

Since they could not be passed before the deadline and the Finance Ministry made temporary arrangement for six months for revenue collection, there is no urgency of passing the three bills as being insisted by the government.

Those bills can be produced at the House later by correcting some provisions,” said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi.

The government has been insisting that the no-confidence motion cannot move forward until the fate of the three bills is decided.

The ruling parties are preparing to obstruct the House slated for July 21 that is scheduled to move forward the no-confidence motion.