KATHMANDU, AUGUST 29
Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota today decided that there was no need to take any action on the letter written by the CPN-UML seeking expulsion of 14 UML lawmakers belonging to Madhav Kumar Nepal-Jhalanath Khanal faction.
The Nepal-Khanal faction has already formed a new party now. According to Secretary of the House of Representatives Gopalnath Yogi, Speaker Sapkota stated in his decision that since the Election Commission had recognised the party formed by the Nepal-Khanal faction, there was no need to act on the letter written by the UML.
The establishment faction of the CPN-UML had written to Speaker Sapkota on August 18 informing him of the party's decision to expel 14 lawmakers belonging to the Madhav Kumar Nepal-Jhalanath Khanal faction from the part. The establishment faction of the UML had expelled the rival faction lawmakers the very day the Sher Bahadur Deuba government brought an ordinance lowering the threshold for splitting political parties.
The UML had urged the speaker to confirm the expulsion of UML lawmakers by issuing a notice as asked by the party.
Lawmakers who were expelled from the party are Madhav Kumar Nepal, Birodh Khatiwada, Met Mani Chaudhary. Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Mukunda Neupane, Ram Kumari Jhakri, Kalyani Khadka, Laxmi Kumari Chaudhary, Nira Devi Jairu, Pushpa Kumari Karna, Sarala Yadav, Kalila Khatun, Krishna Lal Maharjan, and Bhawani Khapung.
The UML had removed 14 lawmakers from the HoR and party positions for defying party whips on May 10 when Oli, as prime minister, had sought vote of confidence in the HoR.
UML chief KP Sharma Oli had accused Sapkota of acting as CPN-Maoist Centre cadre by refusing to confirm the expulsion of 14 lawmakers.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 30 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
