Kathmandu, March 2

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that homework for expanding the Cabinet had started from today.

PM Dahal told mediapersons after a meeting of eight political parties discussed the current coalition today.

Asked when he would take the vote of confidence, PM Dahal said, "The vote of confidence will be taken after the presidential and vice-presidential elections. Homework for Cabinet expansion starts from today." He said the alliance would continue for five years.

PM Dahal, also the chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre), said the government was looking for a new alternative after UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli expressed the opinion that dissolution of the Parliament was a correct course in the House of Representatives meeting on January 10.

Addressing a joint gathering of parliamentarians of the eight parties in Kathmandu this afternoon, PM Dahal said the views expressed by the UML chair in the House of Representatives on January 10 had forced him to rethink the alliance with the UML.

Addressing the gathering, PM Dahal said, "After the dissolution of the Parliament against the spirit of the constitution in the past, we all stood in favour of democracy and constitution. We hit the street with the demand for restoration of the Parliament. Our alliance was committed to defend democracy and the constitution, and address the people's desire for development and prosperity. At some point, we got a bit confused, but now we have come to the right place. The alliance will move forward and we will further strengthen it."

PM Dahal said this alliance was in the interest of democracy and constitution. He further said, "Ramchandra Paudel has the support of not only eight, but ten parties. He also has the support of independent MPs. He has already won the election. It is in the interest of democracy and constitution."

PM Dahal said he had spoken seriously with UML Chair KP Sharma Oli in their latest talks in Baluwatar. He said Oli rejected the request to create an atmosphere of national consensus. "Nepali politics is in a state of flux. We are still in the midst of political crisis and challenge," the PM observed.

"I received unprecedented vote while taking the vote of confidence from the House of Representatives on January 10. This was the basis of national consensus. In my last conversation in Baluwatar, I told Oli the country was in a difficult situation. We must stand together to propose the Nepali Congress candidate for president. Let's create an environment of national consensus. However, he did not agree. Now we are in a situation of maximum consensus."

PM Dahal mentioned that although the position of the prime minister was not a big thing, it was vital to protect democracy and the constitution.

He further said, "In the Parliament on January 10, UML President KP Sharma Oli said it was right to dissolve the Parliament. We were against the dissolution of Parliament. We ourselves restored the Parliament after much struggle. However, when he said he had made his decision, we were forced to think. There was no reason for us to go against democracy and the constitution. Today, we stand together to defend democracy and the constitution."

"We have bitter past experience. The presidency is the guardian of democracy and constitution as well as the guardian of the nation. However, this was not the case in the past," PM Dahal said, adding, "This time around, we have nominated an honest leader who understands the importance and intricacies of the constitution and has fought for democracy for a long time. We believe he will play the role of guardian to protect democracy and the constitution."

Former prime minister and Nepali Congress Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, presidential candidate Ramchandra Paudel, leaders Mahantha Thakur, Ashok Kumar Rai, Rajendra Shrestha, Beduram Bhusal, NUP chair Ranjita Shrestha, Durga Paudel, Janamat MP and Minister Abdul Khan, among others, addressed the programme.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.