Kathmandu December 17

CPN-UML Chair KP Shrama Oli and CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a joint press conference today and warned the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government not to obstruct the formation of a new government.

The two left alliance leaders said the caretaker government’s recent statements and activities were against the constitution, international practices and established norms of the past. “These acts of the government have created obstruction in the formation of the government, implementation of the constitution and practices of democracy and have also disregarded the fresh mandate of the people,” Oli and Dahal said in their joint statement.

They urged the government to pave the way for the formation of a new government. They also warned the government not to take any political decision, including appointment of governors.

Dahal and Oli’s warning comes after Deuba said the National Assembly’s formation and the president’s endorsement of the National Assembly Election Ordinance should be done before the formation of the new government.

Oli and Dahal clarified that the constitution did not stop the formation of the new government before the formation of the National Assembly, the upper house of the Parliament.

In the first joint press conference after the provincial and parliamentary polls, Oli was visibly angry with the PM. “Rules should be formulated before a game starts,” Oli said in an oblique reference to the government’s decision to send the National Assembly Election Ordinance to the president when polls were being held. The president has yet to endorse the ordinance.

Oli said the caretaker government should not pressure the president to endorse the ordinance.

The NC and Madhes-based parties want the upper house election to be held on the basis of single transferable vote system, but  Dahal said there was no provision in the constitution regarding such a system.

“I have told the prime minister that the government should not appoint governors  without forging  political consensus,” Dahal said. “The caretaker government should not transfer and promote government employees or make fresh appointments,” he added.

Oli said the new government would make political appointments if required.

He added that the new government would recommend to the president the names of three members to be nominated to the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly will be formed after the new government is formed. We have also followed this in the past,” he added. He argued that forming the new government was solely the business of the lower house of the Parliament and the upper house had nothing to do with it.

He said there was no need to take a tough stance on the constitution and the government should show flexibility and follow democratic norms.

“India has already welcomed the people’s verdict for peace, stability and prosperity. We’ll have fabulous relationship with our neighbours. We have mentioned that in our manifesto,” he added.

(UPDATED)

Left alliance cautions govt not to take crucial decisions

KATHMANDU: The leaders of the left alliance have urged the government not to take any decisions of long-term importance.

Organising a press meet today in the Capital, the top leaders of the CPN-Maoist Centre and CPN-UML cautioned the government not to proceed with the decisions on fresh political appointments, transfers and promotions at a time when the fresh mandate has been received from the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies.

The left alliance made such announcement after the government's preparation for the appointment of State Chief in all seven provinces.

"The caretaker government cannot take any decision of long term significance. This is not acceptable for us," they said.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli questioned if the government was devaluing the people's mandate by delaying the handover of the power to the political party having people's mandate.

"The caretaker government cannot take any long-term decisions constitutionally, politically and morally," he said.

Chairman Oli said that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's refusal to quit the post prior to formation of the national assembly was wrong.

Saying that the government submitted the ordinance on formation of the National Assembly with the President without consulting the political parties, Oli said the Prime Minister should not incite the President for unconstitutional steps.

Stating that efforts were on to change the electoral system during the period of elections, Oli added the rules would not change once the game starts.

Likewise, Chairman of CPN-Maoist Centre Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said that the concern of the left leaders was for establishing political stability, good governance, development and prosperity instead of the premiership.

Prachanda shared that he talked to the Prime Minister yesterday regarding the confusion on formation of the National Assembly.

"The Constitution of Nepal has not the provision of single transferable vote system. I had drawn the Prime Minister's attention to move ahead by forging consensus sooner than later," the Maoist Chairman said.

"The PM has assured me for consensus among the major political parties. But, I don’t see the circumstances to that end," he added.

Likewise, the two parties' top leaders have pledged to end transition, maintain political stability, defend and implement the constitution, strengthen democracy and make country's sovereignty, unity and social goodwill further stronger.

The left alliance is committed to maintaining best relations with all neighbouring countries and international organizations based on the foreign policy guided by the constitution, reads a joint press statement issued by the two leaders.