President Yadav calls parties to elect new PM
Kathmandu, October 2
President Ram Baran Yadav today called the political parties represented in the Parliament to elect new prime minister on the basis of political understanding within seven days as per Article 298 (2) of the new constitution.
This was stated in a press statement issued by the President’s Office.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala requested President Yadav to begin the process of forming new government as per the new constitution of the country.
Although everyone was expecting that Prime Minister Koirala would pave the way for the new government by resigning today, Koirala-led Cabinet decided to request the President to start the process of formation of the new government.
Article 298 (2) of Nepal’s Constitution states that if the session of the Legislature Parliament is on at the time of commencement of the new constitution, then within seven days from the date of the commencement of the constitution, the PM shall be chosen with political consensus. If the Parliament is not in session, a consensus PM shall be chosen within seven days from the date of the summoning of the session under Article 296 (6).
However, the constitution is silent regarding the resignation of the prime minister.
Finance Minister Ram Saran Mahat said the post of prime minister would remain vacant if the PM resigns. He said PM did not tender his resignation, as new constitution is silent on the issue. “Existing Cabinet would remain until new government is elected,” he said.
From tomorrow the process to form national consensus government will begin.
UML has already projected its Chairman KP Sharma Oli as contender for the PM’s post. From today existing government turned transitional government.
UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the PM today resigned in an indirect way. Mahara said he was not aware of who would be leading the new government.
Minister Mahesh Acharya said PM had clearly said that three major parties should discuss the formation of new government without affecting their ties.
The Parliament, meanwhile, unanimously passed the Interim Legislature-Parliament Rules. Speaker Subas Nembang read out the letter of the government informing that the portfolios of Minister for Youth and Sports Purushottam Poudel and Energy Minister Radha Gyawali would be looked after by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam.
During the first meeting of the Parliament, Speaker Subas Nembang read out the President’s letter on resumption of the Parliament session. The next meeting of the Parliament is scheduled for 1:00pm on Sunday.
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