KATHMANDU, APRIL 24
In light of the questions over the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress (NC) coalition-led government amid various protests in Kathmandu from several sectors, including education, health, cooperatives, NC General Secretary Gagan Thapa stated that the NC will leave the government if necessary.
Speaking at a Democracy Day programme in Kathmandu on Thursday, General Secretary Thapa stated, "We should be able to say that we will not compromise on fundamental issues. If necessary, we will exit such a government. Staying in the government is not everything."
Recently, distrust of the main ruling party, the NC, towards Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is growing. The NC seems disenchanted with PM Oli's style of work.
Several NC leaders have accused the prime minister of preventing the governor's appointment and prolonging the teachers' strike. Meanwhile, the NC expressed dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Oli's removal of Purna Bahadur Tamang (Kancharam), Minister of State for Energy, on Wednesday.
Earlier, Thapa had said, "Teachers are in the streets. If the government had acted in the right time and manner, they would not have had to take to the streets. Nothing has gone wrong so far. Teachers' demands should be addressed and sent to their work as soon as possible."
According to reports, NC leaders have stated that they will have thoughts once President Sher Bahadur Deuba returns from Thailand.
Meanwhile, CPN-MC Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal informed the party's parliamentary party meeting that he had spoken with Sher Bahadur Deuba a few days earlier.
On Thursday, the CPN-MC parliamentary party met at its office in Singha Durbar. Dahal informed the meeting that President Deuba called him before departing for Bangkok, Thailand.
On the other hand, while addressing a youth celebration commemorating Democracy Day at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu on Thursday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli urged party cadres to focus on the upcoming elections rather than the government.
"The current government of CPN-UML and NC is determined. It is a government established to maintain stability and permanence. Some progress has been made. We should be concerned about the elections, not the government," he said.
Oli stated that some believe the government will collapse, however, the current coalition was formed to provide stability and permanence. "When a government is formed in a democracy, it is formed for a long time, for five years. It is not an authoritarian regime. It is not ruled by a dynasty," stated Prime Minister Oli.
