Oli meets Prez Bhandari ahead of opposition leaders
KATHMANDU, MAY 21
The opposition alliance comprising Nepali Congress, CPN- Maoist Centre, disgruntled faction of ruling party led by Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Upendra Yadav-Baburam Bhattarai faction of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal, has made a move to form a coalition government.
According to the alliance, they have the support of as many as 149 lawmakers which denotes that they possess the adequate number to form a majority government.
It has been learnt that leaders from the opposition alliance have left for the President's official residence, Shital Niwas, to submit the signatures of 149 lawmakers recommending Deuba's appointment.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari had given the parties a deadline until 5:00 pm, Friday, to present their claim.
On Thursday, the government had recommended the president to initiate the formation of a new government pursuant to Article 76 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was not 'in the mood' to withstand another floor test.
The PM, after his reappointment on May 10, was supposed to gather the House of Representatives' confidence within 30 days.
It was being feared that if the new government could not be formed as per Article 76 (5), Oli would invoke Article 76 (7) and recommend House dissolution yet again.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had also reached Shital Niwas a few couple of minutes ahead of the oppositon leaders. Whether or not Oli presented his claim to government afore the President is yet to be known.
