No-confidence motion to topple the incumbent government.
The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Baidya faction of the UCPN (Maoist),
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal and some fringe parties are preparing to
float a no-confidence motion to topple the incumbent government.
These parties engaged in signature collection and inter-party
discussions on Saturday. The signature campaigners, however, seem less
confident that the motion will legally replace the current
Baburam Bhattarai-led government. Leaders say the bid to table a no-confidence motion was aimed at giving a message to the prime minister that he is indeed in minority and therefore should step down immediately.
According to NC leader Chandra Bhandari, his party has collected signatures from almost all of 114 lawmakers for a vote of no confidence. During a meeting with NC President Sushil Koirala, Maoist Vice-chairman Baidya claimed that he could provide signatures of some 100 lawmakers from his party to unseat the government.
But the Parliamentary Party meeting of the CPN-UML on Saturday witnessed heated debate after PP leader Jhala Nath
Khanal asked the lawmakers to
put their signatures on a blank sheet of paper. The lawmakers mainly from the Janajati background said the move was swim against the whim.
A section of the UML lawmakers, most of them representing the Janajati community, came down heavily on Khanal after he asked them to put their signatures on blank paper for what he said, “with a view to using them anytime.” Leaders said they opposed the move thinking that the signatures were collected on a blank sheet of paper to register a no-trust motion against the government.
Soon after briefing the leaders on the progress made by inter-party talks on statute writing, Khanal proposed the lawmakers put their signatures in a blank paper. “Your signatures could be useful anytime so sign in a blank paper,” Khanal told lawmakers. Khanal indirectly floated a proposal for no-trust motion in the meeting a day after he consulted the issue with the legal eagles. The idea followed similar move of the hardliner faction of the UCPN (Maoist) led by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and the Nepali Congress to table a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
They think the Bhattarai-led government may be “authoritarian” in the post-May 27 scenario and a fresh election to be held under that government would be harmful for them. The UML has become skeptical after 320 cross-party CA members including four dozen UML lawmakers collected their signatures and handed them over to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in support of federalism based on single identity. NC and UML want to go for fresh CA election in case the constitution was not promulgated within the given deadline. “Your signatures are essential to give a message that the party stands united and to demonstrate your commitment to the party,” Khanal said in the meeting.
Janajati lawmakers responded to the chairman bluntly. “Our commitment to the party is evident after we took the oath of office and secrecy. If you doubt our role, we cannot put our signatures in a blank paper,” said Pasang Sherpa.
Following a heated debate, some UML leaders including Pradeep Gyawali and Rabindra Adhikari tried to restore normalcy. This stalled the signature collection drive and the UML chief whip issued a statement saying that the party remained united in constitutional issues and future strategy.
Baburam Bhattarai-led government. Leaders say the bid to table a no-confidence motion was aimed at giving a message to the prime minister that he is indeed in minority and therefore should step down immediately.
According to NC leader Chandra Bhandari, his party has collected signatures from almost all of 114 lawmakers for a vote of no confidence. During a meeting with NC President Sushil Koirala, Maoist Vice-chairman Baidya claimed that he could provide signatures of some 100 lawmakers from his party to unseat the government.
But the Parliamentary Party meeting of the CPN-UML on Saturday witnessed heated debate after PP leader Jhala Nath
Khanal asked the lawmakers to
put their signatures on a blank sheet of paper. The lawmakers mainly from the Janajati background said the move was swim against the whim.
A section of the UML lawmakers, most of them representing the Janajati community, came down heavily on Khanal after he asked them to put their signatures on blank paper for what he said, “with a view to using them anytime.” Leaders said they opposed the move thinking that the signatures were collected on a blank sheet of paper to register a no-trust motion against the government.
Soon after briefing the leaders on the progress made by inter-party talks on statute writing, Khanal proposed the lawmakers put their signatures in a blank paper. “Your signatures could be useful anytime so sign in a blank paper,” Khanal told lawmakers. Khanal indirectly floated a proposal for no-trust motion in the meeting a day after he consulted the issue with the legal eagles. The idea followed similar move of the hardliner faction of the UCPN (Maoist) led by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and the Nepali Congress to table a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
They think the Bhattarai-led government may be “authoritarian” in the post-May 27 scenario and a fresh election to be held under that government would be harmful for them. The UML has become skeptical after 320 cross-party CA members including four dozen UML lawmakers collected their signatures and handed them over to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in support of federalism based on single identity. NC and UML want to go for fresh CA election in case the constitution was not promulgated within the given deadline. “Your signatures are essential to give a message that the party stands united and to demonstrate your commitment to the party,” Khanal said in the meeting.
Janajati lawmakers responded to the chairman bluntly. “Our commitment to the party is evident after we took the oath of office and secrecy. If you doubt our role, we cannot put our signatures in a blank paper,” said Pasang Sherpa.
Following a heated debate, some UML leaders including Pradeep Gyawali and Rabindra Adhikari tried to restore normalcy. This stalled the signature collection drive and the UML chief whip issued a statement saying that the party remained united in constitutional issues and future strategy.
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