KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 20

The Standing Committee of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) today decided to table a proposal before the Central Committee seeking disciplinary action against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who cochairs NCP, for his ‘undemocratic and autocratic step’ of recommending dissolution of the House of Representatives.

NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha told mediapersons after the Standing Committee meeting that the committee also decided to hold urgent meeting of the party’s Central Committee on Tuesday to discuss disciplinary action against Oli.

He said the PM’s action violated Article 56 of party’s interim statute.

Shrestha said the Standing Committee condemned Oli’s recommendation to dissolve the House, terming his move as unconstitutional, undemocratic, autocratic, regressive, and against the political mandate given to the party by the people of the country.

The Standing Committee called the PM’s action ‘a cruel attack on the political change brought by great sacrifices of Nepalis’.

NCP party body also condemned President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s actions.

“The role of the guardian of the constitution was also objectionable,” Shrestha said adding that the PM’s action could not be accepted by democratic forces and those who believe in the constitution.

“We totally reject the PM’s action and will seek political as well as legal remedies,” Shrestha said.

NCP Standing Committee also appealed to all political forces, people and civil society members to rise against the PM’s ‘undemocratic and autocratic step’ and to show solidarity for protection of the republican order. The Standing Committee also urged party leaders to maintain party unity.

The committee termed the PM’s action as an attempt to sabotage the constitution and a betrayal of the trust bestowed by the people on the party.

It decided to send a proposal to the Central Committee to nominate former speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara to the Standing Committee in place of Agni Prasad Sapkota, whose seat fell vacant after he became the speaker of the House of Representatives.