The decision by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Vidyadevi Bhandari on Thursday
has caused a stir in the opposition. The attention of other parties has been drawn after the Prime
Minister issued a statement saying that he would not go to the parliament for a vote of
confidence but would form a government in accordance with Article 76, Clause 5 of the
Constitution.
The Prime Minister had recommended to the President to open the way for the formation of an
alternative government, saying that a vote of confidence with a majority in the parliament would
not be possible. Accordingly, the President had issued a statement to form the government in
accordance with Article 76, Clause 5 of the Constitution. Such a decision by the President and
the Prime Minister is not for the benefit of the Opposition. The statement set a 21-hour deadline
for forming a majority government. Opposition parties have stated they will not run in the by-
elections.
Opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) has lashed out at the Prime Minister, saying that he had
done this to fulfill his political interests and that the President had sided with him. He also said
that the constitution of Nepal has been rigged.
After two or more parties failed to claim a prime minister with a majority, the president
appointed Oli as the prime minister on April 12, 2008. So the prime minister has to take a vote of
confidence within a month. Even if it goes according to the constitution, the prime minister must
resign and call for another prime minister. But the incumbent prime minister has called for
another prime minister.
Opposition parties have stated they will not run in the by-elections, but will seek to impeach the
prime minister. The Prime Minister has opposed the opposition’s move. He further added that the
impeachment of the President in the republic was an attack on the republic. It is not easy for the
opposition to file an impeachment. Because even when impeachment