KATHMANDU: Speaker Onsari Gharti on Sunday refuted allegations that she acted in favour of the CPN Maoist Centre party while making a decision to prioritise the discussion on no-confidence motion against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The Speaker's press advisor Babin Sharma issued a statement today and claimed that the Speaker was fully aware of dignity of her position.

Sharma claimed that the Speaker made the decision to put three bills related to the annual budget on hold till discussion on the no-confidence vote considering the past parliamentary practices.

In September 1995 and December 1996, the then House of Representatives had also discussed the no-confidence motions prior to passing any bill when the then prime ministers, Man Mohan Adhikari and Sher Bahadur Deuba respectively, faced the opposition charges, the statement explained.

However, in October 1997 when Lokendra Bahadur Chand faced the no-trust motion from Nepali Congress lawmakers, the then Speaker had decided to continue discussions on some bills before the no-trust vote, but in consent of all parties, it added.

"Let no one have any illusion on this matter; the Speaker made the decision independently based on these practices."

Both the Constitution and the Parliamentary Regulations did not have clear provisions on prioritisation of the no-confidence motion and the Speaker made the conclusion in consultation with political leaders, legal practitioners and officials of her Secretariat, Sharma added.

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