Premier to decide on his resignation today

Kathmandu, October 1

Three major political parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist — today held a brief discussion about forming a unity government comprising at least the three major parties.

“Top leaders of the three major parties held preliminary discussion this morning at the prime minister’s residence about forming a new government. They are of the opinion to take maximum parties on board to make it a unity government,” said NC leader on condition to anonymity.

After Prime Minister Sushil Koirala proposed to table a bill seeking amendment to the new constitution to include the provisions — proportional inclusion and making population major basis of delimitation of constituencies — as promised earlier by the three parties publicly, at tomorrow’s Parliament meeting, the issue could not be agreed upon as CPN-UML rejected the idea of constitution amendment immediately and UCPN-M backed UML’s stance, said sources.

It is still uncertain whether PM Koirala will resign tomorrow or will wait for another day or two. As the Parliament should elect new PM by October 9 as per the new constitution, it is constitutional obligation that he should resign before that.

“PM Koirala is preparing to resign. However, whether he will resign tomorrow or he will take another day or two for the same is not clear. The PM will take a decision regarding this tomorrow morning,” said Minister for Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs Narahari Acharya.

It is expected that the PM will tender his resignation to President Ram Baran Yadav tomorrow itself after addressing the Parliament at 1:00pm.

Following the PM’s resignation, President Yadav will have to call all political parties represented in the Parliament to give the name of a consensus candidate for the PM’s post within seven days. If the parties fail to do so, the President will have to write to the Parliament asking it to begin the process of electing the new PM through voting.

Since there is a fat chance of 31 parties and two independent members represented in the Parliament coming up with a consensus prime ministerial candidate, it is almost certain that the Parliament will have to elect the PM through voting process.

“The parliament secretariat is all prepared to conduct voting for electing new PM and waiting for that. The voting process can be concluded within one week maximum after it begins,” said Speaker Nembang.

If the PM tenders resignation tomorrow, the country will likely get the new PM by October 15.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, at a press meet organised by his party today, said the PM would tender his resignation tomorrow.