KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 13

While Rastriya Swatantra Party has claimed that Deputy Speaker Indira Rana's letter requesting the interview did not go out of the office, the ruling coalition is planning to oust her for the majority in the Constitutional Council.

Kabindra Burlakoti, Acting General Secretary of RSP, stated that the Deputy Speaker had already explained about the letter. He said this today at a press conference to update the public on the national gathering's preparations.

He insisted that the issue is being brought up again because the ruling coalition does not have a majority in the Constitutional Council.

Two-thirds of the 275 MPs of the House of Representatives, i.e., 183 MPs, are required to remove Deputy Speaker Rana Magar. The ruling party has 180 MPs- Congress (88), CPN-UML (77), Ashok Rai-led Janata Samajwadi Party (7), Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (4), and Nagarik Unmukti Party (4). Three more members are required to remove the deputy speaker.

However, if six Janamat Party lawmakers vote to remove the Deputy Speaker, it will easily reach the two-thirds majority.

Burlakoti, on the other hand, stated, 'If we look at it from the perspective of an error, the letter sent from her position was not used for any purpose. It is not a mistake that could result in her losing her position. Hence, the RSP advocates for her.'

The deputy speaker's secretariat made some mistakes with the letter, but she clarified that she did nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, Janamat Party president CK Raut said in a program on Wednesday that the removal of Deputy Speaker Rana Magar is being orchestrated with ill-intentions.

He suspected the Prime Minister of attempting to remove the Deputy Speaker in order to gain a majority on the Constitutional Council. 'This action would diminish democracy. As it appears that the large parties are bent on destroying small parties,' he said.

Article 284 of the Constitution establishes the Constitutional Council. The Prime Minister chairs the committee in charge of recommending the appointment of the Chief Justice and the heads and officials of constitutional bodies, which includes the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, and the Deputy Speaker of the

House of Representatives.

Based on current political representation, the ruling party appears to be in the minority in the Constitutional Council. Apart from Prime Minister Oli, Speaker Devraj Ghimire was elected as a UML candidate.

Narayan Dahal, the National Assembly Speaker, is a member of the CPN-MC, while Indira Rana Magar represents the RSP. However, the constitution requires that parliamentary leadership positions be neutral, with no party affiliation.

Deputy Speaker Rana wrote to the US Embassy in Kathmandu on February 26 of last year, requesting visa interviews for herself and five others. Two months later, the letter was leaked, and she has been under pressure to resign.